Carl Padden

Our beloved father, grandfather, friend and mentor Carl Padden of Murrieta, CA, passed away peacefully surrounded by family members on Saturday February 13, 2021 in San Diego, California at the age of 82. Carl optimistically and bravely battled multiple medical issues without once complaining about his challenges during his recent hospitalization until God called him home on that Saturday morning.

The eldest of two boys, Carl was born in East Rutherford, New Jersey to parents Aloysius Padden and Mildred (Heider) Padden. Aloysius Padden, M.D. was a family doctor and Mildred was his nurse practicing medicine out of their home office. Local patients would show up at any time, giving Carl an early exposure to the medical field and a wide range of patient care.

It was his family’s medical background that drew Carl to his lifelong career in the medical instrumentation industry. While attending Fairleigh-Dickinson University, he met his future bride Mary Pustarfi on a blind date. Mary was attending nursing school and would soon earn her RN degree.

Carl married Mary Pustarfi in 1958. They happily began a life together and were married for 48 years until Mary passed away from cancer in 2006. Carl and Mary raised three beautiful daughters; Lisa, Linda and Carolyn. Due to Carl’s job responsibilities, the family moved frequently and enjoyed the experiences of living in several different states including New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Illinois, and Minnesota before finally setting in California.

Carl had a highly successful 40-year career in the medical instrumentation field. As an executive for two high-profile companies, he led the Field Engineering Services function for Beckman Instruments and then later served as Director of Technical Services for leading eye care specialist Alcon. His business acumen, product knowledge, and customer service skills helped to increase the revenue of these prestigious firms by millions of dollars. Carl’s client interface took him all over the globe to Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, India, Japan, Australia, and other locations. During his travels he developed life-long friends.

His colleagues described some of Carl’s personal characteristics and work attributes as: astute in business, highly intelligent, a mentor, great at diplomacy, taking a long-view to critical decision making, faithful/loyal, having an irreverent sense of humor, and being a good friend. He kept in touch with his colleagues long after he retired. Carl was also a veteran of the US Army and served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in West Friendship, Maryland.

Carl lived life to the fullest! He enjoyed anything associated with the outdoors including hunting, skeet shooting, boating, fishing, and camping. He was a skilled marksman and was proficient with many types of firearms including handguns, rifles and shotguns.

He loved going back to rural West Virginia each year to hunt and fish with his best friend John Copeman.

Carl had an early fondness for riding motorcycles. He also was a dog-lover; especially the Dachshund breed which he called “the handsomest face you ever saw on a dog”.

Carl was a very smart man in many, many subjects. He was patient and even-tempered; rarely showing any signs of displeasure or being upset. Everyone who met him…even for just a short while…instantly liked Carl for his warm and gracious personality. He charmed the nurses who were giving him care and was a favorite patient of his medical team. In short, Carl was a great role model; especially for men who could learn by his actions how to be a good and principled man, a father, grandfather, friend and mentor.

Family always came first for Carl and he had a strong love for his wife and children. Every decision he made was made first with them in mind. He was a good provider and parent who instilled in his family strong morals and taught the difference between right and wrong. He was always there for his kids to help in any way he could. Through it all, we could often hear him say: “I had a good life!”

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Aloysius and Mildred Padden, his wife Mary Padden, and a brother Aloysius Padden, Jr. Carl is survived by his daughter Lisa Padden of Chesterfield, MO, daughter Linda (Jeffrey) Jordan of San Diego, CA, daughter Carolyn (Fabrizio) Guerra of San Diego, CA, grandsons Brandon Guerra and Jack Guerra of San Diego, CA, and Aunt Kathy Pustarfi of New York, NY.

While we are saddened by Carl’s passing and will deeply miss him, we are grateful to God for His plan for Carl’s wonderful life and His perfect timing to take Carl home to Heaven. He is now free from pain and re-united in perfect form with his wife Mary, his parents and many friends. We praise God for the life of Carl Padden.