Dr. Paul Anthony Kohlhepp

Paul was born on August 18, 1936 in Baltimore, MD to Harry Joseph Kohlhepp, Sr. and Mary Angela Tormey Kohlhepp. He grew up with two brothers and two sisters in their Baltimore home.

After attending high school at Loyola Blakefield (Class of 1954), he continued his education at Loyola College (Class of 1958) and then went on to earn his medical degree at University of Maryland School of Medicine (Class of 1962). A Board Certified Ophthalmologist, he was a member of numerous medical and ophthalmic societies.

Following a residency at Mercy Hospital in downtown Baltimore, Paul served in the US Air Force as a First Lieutenant in the Reserve (Medical Corps). His four years in the service as a doctor included time at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS and RAF Bentwaters in Woodbridge, UK. While at Bentwaters, located along the eastern coast of England, he discovered one of his passions: sailing.

Upon returning to the US, he and his young family settled in Annapolis for its likeness to the English coast and ample sailing opportunities.

In Anne Arundel County, Paul launched a successful career in ophthalmology. In 1969, he recognized the need for quality eye care in Glen Burnie, MD and established Baltimore Washington Eye Center.

To better service the area’s population, he expanded his medical practice a decade and a half after its founding to include the region’s first ever ambulatory ophthalmic surgery center. Simultaneously, he pioneered phacoemulsification—a modern cataract surgery—with intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Paul developed the medical practice and vision treatment methodology with as much accuracy as he brought to sailing and to his other great love: golf. He belonged to several clubs, including the Naval Academy Golf Association in Annapolis, MD; Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, MD; and Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, FL.

When not in the operating room or on the golf course, Paul sailed and raced along the Chesapeake Bay and throughout the Caribbean. From rigging sailboats to analyzing his next putt and performing microsurgery, Paul brought immense precision to every task he took on.

In the 1990s, Paul retired from Baltimore Washington Eye Center to Naples, FL. In his retirement, he and his wife Peggy enjoyed traveling to North Berwick, Scotland, where they played golf and visited local pubs. When not in Scotland or Florida, they spent time in Southwest Harbor, ME, taking in the New England coast. Other travel experiences included cruises to many destinations, such as the UK, Australia, South America, and the Pacific coast of the US.

Another passion in retirement included learning about, collecting, and enjoying fine wines. Paul liked to share his knowledge and collection with family and friends.

Paul is survived by Margaret S. Kohlhepp, his loving wife of 41 years; three children, Denise, Alison, and Paul; three stepchildren, Jamie, Rob, and Mike; and 13 grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road), Timonium, MD 21093 on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, 5800 Smith Avenue , Baltimore, MD 21209 on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 10am. Interment Druid Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be directed in Dr. Kohlhepp’s memory to Loyola Blakefield, 500 Chestnut Ave. Towson, MD 21204, Loyola University, 4501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210-2699, and University of Maryland School of Medicine, c/o UMBF, Inc., Office of Philanthropy Operations, 220 N. Arch Street, 13th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201.