Michael D. Stulpin, 59, family physician

Michael D. Stulpin, 59, of Newtown Square, a family physician in Sharon Hill for more than 30 years, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, of heart failure at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Since 1981, Dr. Stulpin had maintained a practice in Sharon Hill. "One of his greatest sources of pride was his personal and medical relationships with multiple generations of his patient families," said his wife, Anne Gettemuller Stulpin.

Dr. Stulpin was an assistant medical director with Devon Health Services. Since 2008, his practice was also part of the Crozer-Keystone Health System.

He was a member of the Sharon Hill Board of Health and was a physician for the Southeast Delco and William Penn School Districts. Recently, he had been a physician for Rapid Remedy in Malvern, answering patients' questions by videoconference. He was a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine.

Dr. Stulpin's grandparents emigrated to the United States from Russia. "Next to his family," his wife said, "his greatest joy was serving God as an ordained protodeacon in the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church." He spent many happy years serving at St. Andrew's Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia as well as at other Russian Orthodox churches in the area, she said, and loved the Church Slavonic language and musical traditions. He visited Russia often and served in historic churches and monasteries there.

Dr. Stulpin grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and Havertown and graduated first in his class from Haverford High School in 1971. He earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University in 1975 and a medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 1979. He completed residencies in family medicine at Bryn Mawr and Chestnut Hill Hospitals.

He and his future wife met at the PSFS branch in Manoa, where she was in management training and he was a customer. They married in 1985.

Dr. Stulpin was a dog lover and had collected model trains since childhood. He enjoyed spending time with his family at the Jersey Shore and was a member of the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor.

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughters Alexandra, Katherine, and Elizabeth; and a son, Gregory.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. followed by a Panikhida service Friday, Feb. 10, at McCausland- Garrity Funeral Home, 202 S. Chester Pike, Glenolden. A Divine Liturgy and Funeral Rite will be observed at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Nativity of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church, 316 Cassville Rd., Jackson, N.J. Burial will be in St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Christian Cemetery in Jackson.

Donations may be made to the Stulpin Children's Fund, c/o Joseph C. Honer Jr., 206 South Ave., Media, Pa. 19063 or to Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor, NJ, 08247.

Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or sdowney@phillynews.com.