Dear Joe:  I  don't now if there's a day or night in heaven, but wherever you are, we're thinking of you!!!

I think of Dr. Tepas so often. 
Certainly, as a mentor for a younger faculty who was totally outside his own field, he made such a huge impact on my career.  

Oh, just few days ago in my dreams during my rounds I saw him so vividly sharing an idea with him as I woke up and wondering where did he go? we were just discussing. 

I am a neonatologist. I could communicate all research ideas and was able to obtain constructive and productive feedback from him a lot more than from those within my own discipline. I remember him and I still have discussions with him in my dreams every now and then. -An indication of how profound impact he had on my research Psyche and how much I gained from his feedback.

I could bounce research ideas with Dr. Tepas and he would turn it into a project and into a new guideline for the betterment of patients in no time

Dear Jeanne, I think of you and Jo often.  He was the greatest guy, and he had the greatest wife.  It's hard to believe five years have passed since he left us.  Thinking of you and hoping you and the family are doing well.  Much love, Anne Michael

I will always remember his Irish smiling face.

Joe in 2017 at the Surgery Residency Reunion, standing behind Joe Mullin.

Joe, I know you are in heaven looking down on us and smiling with those beautiful, blue Irish eyes.   You were one of the smartest men I have ever met, with the exception of my dear husband, Max. I think of you and your wonderful family often.   You are already blessed, and may God bless them!!  

    My husband was a remarkable man. His great intellect and innate curiosity led him to do wonderful, lifesaving research. His gifted and talented hands healed many children and returned them whole to anxious parents.  Any task undertaken was completed with 100% success and the utmost of efficiency.
     Joe was also a caring and involved father whose advice was often sought by his children. He was a mentor to both residents and colleagues alike. He was a loving brother, a responsible and caring son, a doting grandfather. Most importantly, he was the love of my life for 48 years. I was honored to be his wife, to stand by his side, and be the partner on his journey through life. I will love him forever and miss him terribly until we are together again. God's rest and peace, my love. Jean


Alberto Inon and family
Buenos Aires Argentina

Joe was an outstanding pediatric surgeon,  a generous friend a great husband and father: Moreover he was an exceptional human been.
From Argentina we share with Jean and family the sorrow of his passes away


Genie so sorry to hear about Joe passing away.  He was a great man and will be missed by all.  My condolences to you and your family.

Very saddened to learn of Joe's passing. Many yrs. ago we worked together treating pediatric trauma patients from a surgical perspective and also establishing guidelines for management of these cases. I always found him to be extremely dedicated and one of the most caring and ethical colleagues I ever encountered.  In addition to his expertise in pediatric surgery I always found him to be a true gentleman. He was an excellent teacher as well, not only pertaining to surgery skills but also teaching dedication, honesty, ethics as well as surgical skills. I have always had incredible respect for Joe and his dedication and devotion to his patients and  our community. Having all the surgical and personal attributes is not common, he was unique in one person having all this. His passing is a significant loss to our community but hopefully the many whom he mentored will continue to serve in a fashion that would make him proud.  Condolences to his family

To my mentor and friend: Dr Tepas, you shaped who I am today as a physician and pediatric surgeon. I will always remember and cherish your advice, wisdom, and dedication to your family, trainees and patients. During those years, you and Jeanie welcomed Jalpa and I and we were rewarded with a fond sense of family because of it. You will be missed!

My  youngest son, at 15,  had a TBI in 2005, he was rushed to Shands Trauma center and Dr Tepas performed emergency brain surgery... He save our son's life!!! And was so "humble" about it... he was truly an amazing surgeon! God Bless you and God Speed! The world lost a great man!

An instrumental man of God and medicine; prayers and love to family and friends as he has touched so many lives and will be missed but will forever remain in our thoughts

     It has been five years since I left Jacksonville but the memories and the knowledge JJ taught me did create the biggest impact in my career. He had shown me how management differs from leadership and provided me more than enough inspiration and guidance. There are certain common things to the paths we took but his achievements are amazingly nationally best recognized. He is a constant friend and he never failed to follow-up on me even when I already moved here in New England. I am deeply saddened to hearing this moment.

Dr. Tepas was an amazing mentor, scholar and surgeon.  His dedication to the care of injured children and to the advancement of the field of pediatric trauma are legendary.  But it is his warmth, sense of humor, and friendship that I will miss the most.  I feel blessed to have known him, and my heart is heavy with his loss.

Dr. Tepas will live on forever in his legacy:  skilled surgeon, prolific researcher, educator, mentor, gentleman.  I am honored to have been able to call him a colleague and friend.

I met Joseph at a time in his life where he needed to be at the receiving end of health care.  I knew about his professional excellency, but I got to to learn about him as a family man, and his perspectives on how to accept life’s challenges and face them with courage, grace and dignity and how to be grateful for the simple blessings we receive that  many  times we take for granted.
I will always be grateful for the friendship he kindly extended to me, with his example he made me better person. 
Rest In Peace dear friend.

It is with deep sadness that I heard the news of the passing of Dr Joe Tepas. His expertise saved the lives of many of the children and grandchildren of my Southeast Georgia patients over the decades-- those fortunate children have now grown to become teachers, healers,  community leaders. His legacy will live on for many generations to come.

Dr. Tepas was a giant of a surgeon. He was always available whether on call or off. He never refused to lend his expertise when emergencies arose. I knew him since early 1980’s, as a mentor, as a superb teacher, as a visionary, and as a motivator. Relentless in his pursuit of saving lives of babies, children, and adults, he saved thousands of lives in Northeast Florida. 
I will always remember him as an unstoppable force in improving patient care and as a great healer


Dearest Cousin Joe~ You were always that touchstone for me. Loved our conversations and our recall of so many memories over the years. You did so much for so many. May you Rest easy in the Loving arms of our Lord as your reward for the life you lived helping others. 

Joe...for me you were and will always be a true forever friend.   You spent your life making such a difference in so many children’s lives.  You were always so caring and fought so hard for what you felt was right for kids.  I can only smile when thinking of all the many fun memories we shared. Your work is not done...God has a plan for you and we will be watching.   God Bless. 

Dr Tepas was one of my mentors throughout my career as a Pediatric Surgeon  and Director of Injury Free. I doubt that my career would have been so very satisfying without his backup.  I want his family to know how much I valued him and how heartsick I feel with his departure. He was a very good man who helped so many. 
Barbara Barlow MD 

Robert Luten MD
December 22, 2019
Joe and I started out together at the same time here in Jacksonville. We travelled many roads together as pediatric emergency medicine and pediatric trauma care were in their infancy then and we both were very involved in their development both nationally and locally. Those were wonderful and exciting times, made very special and rewarding by our personal connection. I miss those times. I am very saddened by his passing which marks the end of an era and passing of a remarkable man and friend. He will be sorely missed.


There are many who received Joe’s always superb care, and then there are those of us whom he inspired. I was one such lucky, young surgery resident at Naval Regional Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. Joe had just completed fellowship at Hopkins. He was confident and had more than enough to back it up. It is because of Joe that I became a Pediatric Surgeon and have had a most blessed career.  Thank you, Sir, and Fair Winds and Following Seas.

I am sorry to hear of Dr. Tepas's passing. Not only was he my friend Megan's Father but he also was the surgeon who saved my son's life back in 1995. Thank you for what you did for my son and also for everything you did for our Jacksonville Community.  

Wanda Bohannon Kelly

My brother in law was a remarkable person who leaves a legacy of compassionate medical care that saved children and adult patients. His care extended to many family members during times of urgent need. 

Farewell Joe, May you sail to a fair, beautiful and peaceful harbor. 

Sea Fever 

I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; 
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

He is resting in God‘s loving arms now. He will live forever through the surgery residents and others that he taught, and through the next generation that those are now teaching. He exemplified excellence with compassion.Those whose lives he touched are truly blessed.

What a fine man. Worked with him for 10yrs in PICU at Shands. He taught me so much. If was so calm but if he started moving fast you knew something wasn’t going right. 
Sorry for your loss
Becky Boone Forbeck. 

Worked with TraumaOne flight for 12 years and he was such an inspiration! He will be missed. So sorry for your loss.
Carolyn Hodges

I have stood at many a sick newborn bedside with Dr Tepas.  He was a very caring surgeon who did so much for pediatric trama and nicu care.  Worked with him from 1989 until he retired.  He is missed at UF Health

OBITUARY

Joseph John Tepas III, M.D.

26 February, 1946 – 20 December, 2019

Hardage-Giddens Riverside Funeral Home & Riverside Memorial Park

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