Dr. John Stein, a gifted surgeon, and compassionate physician who had the reputation of fighting hard to improve and save the lives of his cancer patients, died suddenly April 11 from suspected toxic shock syndrome while attending a medical conference in Naples, Florida.

The 45-year-old Pasadena resident, parishioner at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and father of four was a world-renowned medical figure who was also known for his bedside manner. At his Mass of Christian Burial at Assumption, he was described as a "hugger," who often prayed for and with patients at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"John's life - tender, strong and true - reflected his faith," said Father Matthew Elshoff, who concelebrated the funeral Mass with Father Gerard O'Brien and other priests, during his homily.

The Capuchin Franciscan called Dr. Stein a compassionate man who had a radiant smile and wore a cross around his neck given to him by a patient. "And he would invoke the power of that cross as a breastplate through his prayer," he said. "John would pray before, during and after surgery."

Yet as his reputation as an internationally known specialist in urologic cancers and bladder reconstruction grew, so did his humility.

"John's life was all about giving and giving and giving," Father Elshoff stressed. "John's life was ongoing self-surrender and, as a result of that, it prepared him for that ultimate self-surrender - his passing from this world to the next."

A classmate at the University of Notre Dame, Ed Roohan, noted that John's two brothers, Rob and Tom, along with his parents, Dr. Robert and Helen Mary Stein, kept the noted surgeon humble. "They raised a very special boy who lived the gospel every day," he said. "John was the ultimate Good Samaritan. John, like the Good Samaritan was always giving of himself to others."

The final eulogy was delivered by Dr. Stein's mentor at the Norris Cancer Center. Dr. Donald Skinner, an acclaimed USC urologic cancer surgeon and chairman of the institute's department of urology, said he first met John when the young man applied to be a resident in training and was impressed by his "very special spirit and a work ethic like no one else."

He reported that "John turned out to be one of the best residents I ever had, and an outstanding [medical] fellow. And I convinced him to stay on as a faculty member, whose development and competence was so great that this week he would have been named my successor as chairman of the department of urology."

Dr. Skinner said his younger colleague was devoted to urology and USC's Norris Cancer Center, often arriving at work before 6 a.m. and being the last physician to leave at night. "And with this work ethic, he was extraordinary productive," he reported. "John made great contributions to urology and really was responsible for changing the way that modern urology was practiced."

The department chair reported that early in Dr. Stein's career he collaborated with other physicians on a landmark study that helped to identify which patients had more aggressive forms of bladder cancer that were likely to progress.

Together in the late 1980s, the two oncologists worked on a better reconstruction technique for patients whose bladders had been destroyed by cancer. The so-called "neo-bladder" vastly improved the quality of life especially for women by allowing them to urinate normally.

"I've always considered John a very special person," said Dr. Skinner. "He was indeed an extension of my own hands. A son and member of my family. Watching the events that transpired on April 10 and concluded 20 hours later were the most horrific 20 hours of my life.

"Why should it happen is impossible to explain, and even harder to accept. The best of modern medicine couldn't save him. And the toxic shock syndrome, which John succumbed to, remains the greatest mystery in unknown infectious disease medicine. Only God knows."

'This is my ministry'
As a cancer survivor himself, who often visits patients at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardinal Roger Mahony got to know Dr. John Stein. He was impressed not only by his brilliance as a physician but by the way he related to patients regardless of the stage of their often terminal illness.

"His Catholic faith was something very meaningful to him, and he brought God's love to patients and staff in very unique ways," the cardinal said. "I often visited his patients and they always felt that he was not only an outstanding doctor, but a personal friend with them on their journey of life and of faith."

Cardinal Mahony said the outgoing doctor was always open and honest with patients about their disease, while being gentle and compassionate in helping people know how deeply he was with them in their sufferings. He reassured those who needed to be touched by God's inner healing - even if physical healing was no longer possible.

"He had enormous potential in the field of urology and its diseases, but somehow in God's providence he was called home far too early to the peace and light of God's kingdom," he said.

"All of us who ministered to cancer patients with him will miss him greatly, and I pray that we will continue to bring that same measure of spiritual and inner healing to them in the months and years that lie ahead."

Father Chris Ponnet, one of the chaplains at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, also was taken by Dr. Stein's genuine outreach to patients. Although he did not sugar-coat their diagnosis and prognosis, he wasn't afraid to hold a hand and just be present. Moreover, he helped patients realize what they were going through at Norris would benefit future generations of cancer patients.

"One of the gifts that he leaves is that legacy of beside manners," he said.

Father Ponnet says the oncologist was a hugger of not only patients, but also family members facing bad news. And then there was his praying. "But it was very much a sense of respect of where the patient was," he pointed out. "There is a sacredness between a doctor and a patient - their sense of honesty and vulnerability - and also people would just see that in him.

"He definitely didn't push his faith or beliefs on anyone, but he definitely was a man of spirituality and faith," the chaplain continued. "So he had those gifts that were there when the moment was right. He really believed that his patients were at times in his hands in surgery, but he trusted that God's hands were right there."

In 1997, Dr. Stein assisted Dr. Skinner in replacing the bladder of a patient named Larry. After, the younger doctor would personally handle all of his post-operative care. (The 57-year-old man from La Puente wished to remain anonymous.)

"He just somehow always knew the right thing to say," he said. "It didn't matter the circumstance. I mean, when I had my procedure, it took longer to recover than the average patient 'cause I didn't want to go home until everything worked properly again. And he would just say, 'Take your time. It'll come. Things will start working again.'"

And they did.

"Recently, there's been stories on the news about firefighters and police officers who have given their lives for others," Larry observed. "This man is right up there with them."

Dr. Stein is survived by his wife of 18 years, Randi Goress Stein, and their four children, John, Joseph, Eleanor and Louisa May; his parents, Dr. Robert and Helen Stein of Walnut Creek; and two brothers, Rob of London and Tom of Riverside, Connecticut.

"This is my ministry," Dr. John Stein told The Tidings last July. "When you help people, you can help them physically, you can help them mentally and maybe there's a spiritual component, too.

"If I can touch them that way, too, maybe I do help them a little bit in terms of global, holistic healthcare. This is how I conduct my ministry."