Edward G. Stopa, MD, 65, of East Greenwich, RI, died September 18. After earning his bachelor’s and medical degrees at McGill University, he completed his residency in pathology and fellowship in neuropathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He began his distinguished career on the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine and the State University of New York before coming to Brown, where he was a professor of pathology and of neurosurgery. His engaging and entertaining teaching style drew numerous undergraduate, medical, and graduate students to brain science research.
For 25 years Dr. Stopa was the director of the Neuropathology Division at Rhode Island Hospital and oversaw the Brown Brain Bank, which provides human tissue for neuroscience research, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. He led an NIH-funded laboratory focusing on neurodegeneration, was a medical adviser to the Alzheimer’s Association of Rhode Island, and published more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Stopa loved spending time with his family and particularly cherished his role as a grandfather. He will be remembered for his vibrant personality, his larger-than-life stories, his eccentric clothing style, and his brilliant mind.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Karen E. Stopa, MD; four daughters; and four grandchildren. Donations in his memory may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or the Alzheimer’s Association.
