Beloved St. Mary's General Hospital Pediatrician Dies

PASSAIC, NJ — A Passaic pediatrician at St. Mary's General Hospital died earlier this week, leading to an outpouring of kind words from those who knew him.

In a statement, hospital CEO Edward J. Condit said the doctor, Elliott Samet, was a double board certified pediatrician who served was as the hospital's primary neonatologist. Samet practiced medicine for 38 years.

"Dedicated and respected, he will be mourned by the entire St. Mary's General Hospital family," Condit said in the statement. "We join together with the community in conveying our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Many tears are being shed over this tragic loss."

According to a report in NJ.com, Samet was 69-years-old when he died. The publication reported he was a founding board member of Hatzolah EMS of Passaic-Clifton, a non-profit organization of volunteer EMTs and dispatchers providing medical services to the Passaic-Clifton community.

The Yeshiva World reported Samet was known for treating his patients like his own family members, adding that his patients would line up outside his house to show him and his wife their Purim costumes.

In a tribute to Samet The Yeshiva World wrote, in part, "We will never forget the lines in your house / office -of all the people going through hard times. Your financial help to countless people was done quietly, never requesting fame. You were a true tzadik in every form."

Passaic resident Batya Rosner told Patch Samet was her children's pediatrician. In a Facebook post memorializing the doctor, she wrote: "When my eldest daughter turned a year old, she spiked a 103 fever and we walk to his house on a Saturday afternoon with all four grandparents, and he laughed at the entourage yet welcome to everyone into his home."

She added: "We knew where he sat in the synagogue if there was an emergency and we needed to find him. We did show up at his house unannounced and he would examine our children and advise us."

Other residents shared similar sentiments.

"I can't go on," one wrote. "I don't know how the community will survive without him."

Another, Ayala Friedman, wrote on Facebook: "We knew where we could find Dr. Samet to save the day when we needed. This is so tragic for Passaic."