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1941 - 2020

BORN

1941

DIED

2020

PAUL PEEBLES Obituary

PEEBLES PAUL THOMAS PEEBLES, MD Paul Thomas Peebles, MD, of Bethesda, MD, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, in Washington, DC., with family by his side. He is survived by his wife, Inger; his daughter, Rebecka, and her husband, Todd Ridky; his son, Gustav, and his wife, Amanda Pollak; his grandchildren, Annika, Rex, Agnes, Magnus, and Soren; his sister, Mary Jo; his brothers, Jim and David; and many precious nieces and nephews and their expanding families in various corners of the world. Paul Peebles was born in Birmingham, AL, on December 7, 1941, to Violet and David Peebles. He attended John Carroll University for his undergraduate education. He then withdrew his bid to become a Jesuit priest and instead pursued a calling to become a doctor, graduating from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In 1966, he married the love of his life, Inger Jordhammar, a.k.a. the Swedish girl with the great nose, whom he was lucky enough to meet at Cleveland's then-famous music venue, The Euc. Dr. Peebles trained in pediatrics at University Hospitals in Cleveland and Harvard Children's Hospital, and completed subspecialty training in pediatric hematology-oncology at the National Institutes of Health. Between 1970 and 1977 he served in the Military as part of the Epidemiology Intelligence Service and the U.S. Public HealthService, and he authored over 30 original research publications before going into private practice. In 1985, he founded the Pediatric Care Center in Bethesda, which became a leading pediatric practice in the D.C. metro area, delivering exceptional primary and multidisciplinary care to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. His patients and colleagues at the PCC meant the world to him, as did the many pediatricians he mentored throughout his career. He built on his cherished experiences with children and their parents by writing two books, OMG, We're Pregnant and Vortex of Feelings: The Early Years. Paul loved spending time in Sweden with his wife and their extended family, playing tennis, constantly augmenting his formidable moose-souvenir collection, and watching The Godfather on an endless loop. He treasured cooking, Christmas, Morning Joe, friends, and family. His favorite sayings, "Wherever you go, your backside is behind you" and "Don't let the turkeys get you down," best encompass the wisdom that permeated all of his teachings. Paul was a much-adored, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and physician. He will be greatly missed. The family will hold a small private service in Sweden in 2021. We welcome any and all remembrances, which can be posted at: www.PumphreyFuneralHome.com so that we may read and reflect on them when we celebrate him there. Paul had long hoped to establish a need-based scholarship fund at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine for students without the means to attend, as Case Western generously waived his tuition fees at a crucial time for him many years ago. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be directed to the school by contacting Liz Kalfas at [email protected]. We are grateful to all who touched Paul's life, and for all the wisdom, love, and gifts you shared with him through the years. Please join us in holding him in the light.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post from Sep. 25 to Sep. 28, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for PAUL PEEBLES

18 Entries

Vivian Ottenberg

July 16, 2025

Remembering Paul today in light of our oldest daughter Erica Ottenberg´s birthday on Friday. Paul was the kindest, dearest dr when tending to our children. We will always remember his laugh and compassion!

Pete Thompson

November 27, 2023

Having spent much of my time away from the DC area in the last few years, I somehow had not heard about Paul's passing until today. Paul and Inger were our dear next door neighbors on Glenbrook Road in Bethesda for twenty years. My late wife Barb came from Swedish stock on her dad's side and Paul and I often remarked that Barb and Inger must have come out of the same gene pool. They were the kindest of neighbors, legendarily gracious entertainers in the beautiful home that was uniquely their own, and welcoming to us and our then-small daughter when we moved in to the neighborhood. My deepest condolences to Inger and the entire Peebles family.

Ilene Reid and Mitch Gerber

May 31, 2023

We only just learned about Dr. Peebles' death and are hurting for you all. He was such a lovely, compassionate, terrific doctor and person. We found the practice when Ilene was pregnant with our first child, and we have only just left it now that our youngest is 23. We will never forget his love and support when our oldest, Sam, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. May his memory be for a blessing.

Nafiseh Roomina

November 23, 2021

A truly previous human being. I trusted Dr. Peebles with children but his friendship touched our lives. We miss you.

Laura Ledgard

August 6, 2021

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Peebles passing. I just learned today when I referred a new mother to his practice and she shared with me his passing.
Time, time, time. I was a young mother with three children and was referred to this man by one of my clients. I met this wonderful docter and did not care that I wrote a check for each appointment. He and his partners were just part of my children´s upbringing. I still remember my son asking him about his tie pin I mean each time he went to the office which was not often as he was my healthiest child. The smile he had telling me it will be ok. Just take elderberry and all those holistic vitamin c etc that I still take to this day for colds. He was a calm in a storm as you only went when you were sick to the practice. I do remember his smile and his gentle voice. The children adored him, but most of all he adored them it seemed. Rest In Peace Dear Dr. Peebles.

May 13, 2021

I went to grade school with Paul and knew his family who were such lovely people. He was so smart and so much fun. We saw each other occasionally up until the mid 60’s and it was always fun to catch up. I don’t know why I Googled him 5/14/22. So sad but I’m happy that he had such a great life. His children and grandchildren must be so beautiful. Ginny Bissell Gesu ‘55

May 13, 2021

Florence and Peter D Hart

October 8, 2020

Inger, Gustav and Rebecca,

Peter and I were surprised and greatly saddened to learn of Paul’s death. Although we haven’t seen you in several years, we treasure the decades when we got together professionally (as Elizabeth Sarah Hart was his first private patient after he left the Cancer Institute) as well as socially.

Paul was a special man. Not only was he really smart with many diverse interests, but he also had a great sense of humor, was sensitive, caring and pragmatic.

Paul was known in our family as Dr Paul. Unfortunately, I am phobic when it comes to medicine. So not only did he have to physically care for Elizabeth and Aaron, but he coped with me. A nurse was usually assigned to keep me calm when I brought the kids to the office. And because Aaron was so sick so often, Paul would stop by the house on his way back from the hospital to check in while I was at the office; my housekeeper was always advised NOT to let me know he was here. When our daughter decided to go to medical school, Paul shook his head and burst out laughing. He said something to the effect that surely I couldn’t control my neurosis sufficiently to have encouraged that; he knew first hand how phobic I could be. That said, he had the patience of a saint in dealing with any and all situations.

All Harts send you hugs and love,

Louis Tenenbaum

October 4, 2020

He really epitomized the caring physician. He listened. He couched his concerns and advice in language that met my needs. He made every child feel comfortable by sitting below them. (How did he know how critical that was?) He never gave the impression of any arrogance, remarkable in such a sharp, thoughtful and confidence inspiring physician. In short, he helped me raise my children by setting the tone and example of good child rearing and relating practice. Don't have any idea if I could have done the job without him.

Evelyn Karson

Planted Trees

Deborah and Rick Duffy

October 2, 2020

Dr. Peebles was a wonderful man and an extraordinary pediatrician.
We had the great fortune to find the Pediatric Care Center and Dr. Peebles 29 years ago when I was pregnant with our oldest child. Dr. Peebles cared for our four children from infancy into adulthood, and I don’t know how we would have gotten through those child rearing years without him. He was such a kind, gentle and understanding man, and it was so apparent that he loved his job and he loved kids. He accurately predicted the temperament of each of my four children when he first met them at 1-3 days old, and as they grew up, he genuinely knew them as individuals. The night we rushed our infant daughter to the emergency room, severely dehydrated with the flu, and they couldn’t get an IV into her, we knew that Dr. Peebles would know what to do (he did!) and we insisted that the hospital call him (they did!). It wasn’t his night on call, but he answered and talked the emergency room doctors through, and saved our daughter’s life. Dr. Peebles diagnosed our son with a rare neurological condition in its early stages, and helped to get him into an NIH study. During one routine interview with the NIH team, they wondered out loud how we had so quickly discovered what our son had. When I said “Dr. Peebles”, the whole room said, “Ah, yes, Dr. Peebles. Of course!”
He non-judgmentally doled out sage parenting advice and answered mundane medical questions from this inexperienced parent, and I am a better parent because of him. I still refer to several of the handwritten notes that Dr. Peebles would write on the scraps of paper he tore from the exam roll: ‘ARNICA MONTANA, ‘ CUP WHITE VINEGAR’ and ‘ELDERBERRY’.
Thank you and rest in peace, Dr. Peebles. I am grateful for all that you did for our family, and I thank your family for so selflessly sharing your time, your gifts and your love with the rest of us.

Deborah and Rick Duffy

AYDA SANVER

October 1, 2020

When my daughter was first diagnosed with autism, he was so caring and told me to give her Sambucol. May he rest in eternal peace he was a fabulous physician who understood children with autism.

Theresa Fitzpatrick

September 28, 2020

I worked for Dr Peebles as one of his RNs and the respect his parents had for him was something I had never experienced in my nursing career.
My condolences to his family.
He was an exceptional physician and that means so much to parents.

Nina Munck

September 26, 2020

Dr Peebles is one of those individuals that you will never forget were you lucky enough to meet him in real life.
He was kind, he was firm, he loved to teach, he would get really concerned for his patients and their families. But first and foremost he stood by his staff and he created a “home-like” atmosphere at the Pediatric Care Center that was so well known to the us, the staff, as well as to the patients and their families. Above all he wanted to serve his patients and families the best possible treatment he could find for them.
Dr Peebles loved to teach and thanks to him I’ll never forget the difference between IGG and IGM .
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Dr Peebles at PCC and he found out that I spoke danish. He immediately started speaking to me in Swedish and I was hired. This happened more than a decade ago and I’ll always be forever grateful to him for letting me become part of the PCC family.
May he Rest In Peace and My thoughts and well wishes are with the family and Inger.
Nina

Ita Berkow

September 25, 2020

Dr Peebles was the most caring and wonderful pediatrician. He took care of my three children. My middle daughter was born with cerebral palsy and it was Paul who guided us through her early years and was so loving and caring of us. In our darkest moments he was there guiding us to the best specialists in the field. When she was older he was so proud of her achievements and always made us feel super special. He was our pediatrician for over 17 years. I am at a loss for words as I was hoping he would have a long and enjoyable retirement. He talked often of his family and grandchildren and he was so proud of them all. He touched my life , my children’s lives and was truly an amazing physician and human being.

Mindy Berger

Planted Trees

Holly Funger

September 25, 2020

What a wonderful, kind and caring man! He was just as good and calm with this nervous new mother as he was with all three of my babies! My middle son was absolutely fascinated with his half finger and we would spend many moments discussing it after each appointment!

Fred Sanders

September 25, 2020

A fine person, an even finer pediatrician. I so enjoyed working with him on eCw, his books, website, not to mention his and Inger’s hospitality at their great holiday parties with the PCC

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