Joseph John Darlak II

Col. Joseph John Darlak II, M.D., Retired, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2017. Dr. Darlak was born in North Tonawanda, New York on March 18, 1931. He graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine in 1956 after receiving a degree in Chemistry from the School of Arts and Sciences. He interned at Boston City Hospital and trained in Diagnostic Radiology at Madigan General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He served his residency at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. In 1975, Dr. Darlak received a fellowship in Special Procedures while attending the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC, where he also served as Associate Clinical Professor of Radiology at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Darlak served in the US Army Medical Corps for 22 years and was stationed abroad in Germany, Lebanon and Japan. While overseas in Japan, Dr. Darlak served as Chief Consultant in Radiology to the Commanding General and to the Army Medical Command where he was instrumental in building a thousand-bed hospital in Yokohama for Vietnam casualties. He also served as the Chief consultant in Radiology to the Commanding General and Army Medical Command Europe while he was stationed in Germany. Dr. Darlak received the Army Commendation Medal twice, the US Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Medal twice and the Meritorious Service award. In 1979, after retiring from the military and his post as Chairman of the Department of Radiology at Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, DC, Dr. Darlak was appointed Associate Professor of Radiology at LSU Medical Center and Chairman of Angiography and Special Procedures at Charity Hospital. Upon retirement from LSU and Charity Hospital, he subsequently practiced on the staffs of Jo Ellen Smith Hebert Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Meadowcrest Hospital and Tulane School of Medicine. Dr. Darlak held offices including the President of the New Orleans Radiology Society and Chairman of the Board; Chairman of the Federal Sub-Committee Data Compression and Film Storage on Optic Laser Disc, Department of the Army Readiness Command and Chairman of the Federal Subcommittee, Allocation and Justifications of Cardiovascular Laboratories in Military and VA Hospitals. In the early 1990s, Dr. Darlak obtained additional medical licenses in Alaska, Arkansas, The Bahamas, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Virginia and began practicing as a locum tenens Radiologist while traveling the country, which he continued until he was 80 years old. Dr. Darlak was an accomplished world traveler who shared his zest for adventure with his family on many exciting trips around the globe. One of his greatest personal accomplishments was visiting and skiing all seven continents. Dr. Darlak also was an avid golfer and tennis player, but his favorite pastime was deep-sea fishing, particularly for salmon and halibut in Alaska. He loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, and he especially loved watching them play sport. He was a gregarious and boisterous personality who enjoyed telling stories, playing bridge, and catching throws at Mardi Gras parades. He was a philanthropist who helped further the Arts in New Orleans. He was a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the US, Louisiana Commandery, the Round Table Club, the New Orleans Opera Club, the Aesculapians, among other social organizations. Back in high school in North Tonawanda, New York, he was the first in his Boy Scout troop to ever earn the Eagle Scout rank. He is survived by his daughters, Laurie A. Keese of Poolesville, Maryland, Jeanne M. Charlebois and her husband Jean-Pierre, sons, Joseph J. Darlak III and his wife Laurie of Dallas, Texas, and Jeffrey E. Darlak; six grandchildren, Madelyn, Katelyn and Mackenzie Keese, Jake and Ella Darlak and Simone Charlebois; brother, John, Eugene, Thaddeus and Dr. Robert Darlak and sister Delores Koszelak. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 44 years, Gloria Jean Ross Darlak, as well as his first wife, Sharon Johnston Darlak, his mother Stephania (Stella) Darlak and his father John J. Darlak. Visitation will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana, 70124, on Monday, October 23rd from 9:00am-11:00am followed by a Catholic Funeral Mass beginning at 11:00am. Interment will immediately follow at All Saints Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).