Philip York Paden

Published 12:40 pm Monday, June 10, 2024

Philip York Paden

April 25,1946 – May 26, 2024

Philip Paden, age 78, passed away on May 26, 2024. He was born in Evanston, Illinois on April 25, 1946. His family spent time in Topeka Kansas and eventually settled in Lawrence Kansas.


While attending Lawrence High School Phil worked at the Nixon Studio and Camera shop where his love for photography began. While in high school he earned his way to win the National Science Fair focusing on the effects of deprivation of stimulus on the nerve synapses in the occipital lobe of the brain. This research led to a job working at Menninger Foundation in Topeka.


Upon graduation from high school he studied at the University of Kansas where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a BA in Chemistry with highest distinction. In 1974 he received a Masters of Arts in Science Education from the Department of Chemistry and Education at Cornell University. From 1978-1982 he continued his education at Albert Einstein College of Medicine for a Doctorate of Medicine Degree. Phil completed his internship in internal medicine at Waterbury Hospital affiliated with Yale.


He arrived in Oregon in July 1983 to begin his residency in Ophthalmology at Oregon Health and Science University where he completed in 1986. Later that year he joined Medical Eye Center in Medford, Oregon. Dr. Paden formed Paden Eye Care Center in August 2002 and specialized in medical retina and general ophthalmology and retired in 2022.

Philip contributed to a number of publications and was a consultant to a number of corporations. He was a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Paden loved fly fishing, riding motorcycles, bicycling, photography and his family and dogs. He spent time fly fishing with his friends and family in Oregon, British Columbia and other parts of the world. Dr. Paden won numerous awards in Enduro dirt bike competitions and continued riding all over the Pacific NW, Spain, France, Scotland, Ireland and Iceland with his wife Debbi Paden. He participated in Cycle Oregon for a number of years and he always had his camera with him and marveled at taking photos.

Surviving Phil are his wife Debbi Paden, her children, and their grandchildren who adored him and nicknamed him Pop Pop, as well as a brother David, two sisters Raybeth and Becky, and nephews, cousins and aunts.

A celebration of life will be held June 29th at 10am, in Jacksonville, Oregon at Bigham Knoll Campus, 525 Bigham Knoll Drive. Colorful attire is welcome and encouraged.

Those who wish remember Philip in a special way may make gifts to the Nature Conservancy.