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Dr. Stephen Tabet, MD MPH, age 42, passed away suddenly on July 6, 2004, in Seattle, Washington. Stephen was an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington. His most recent assignment was as the senior clinical trials physician, working on testing a preventative vaccine for HIV. Stephen traveled worldwide giving many lectures in the field of infectious diseases and prevention. Stephen graduated from Belen High School in 1979. In 1991, he graduated with honors from the University of New Mexico's Medical School as a Presidential Scholar. Dr. Tabet continued with his residency at the University of Washington where he completed both the Internal Medicine Residency Program and a Masters in Public Health. He joined the faculty at the University of Washington in 1999 and recently was promoted to associate professor. Stephen was the most loving, warm, and caring son, brother, uncle, and friend. He always had a kind word, a quick smile, and time to sit and talk with people; no one was a stranger to him for very long. He was a warm human being, who possessed a sense of softness in a hard world. His compassion for people marked both his life and his professional career. Stephen's goal in life was to help others, which he did with his wonderful sense of humor and uplifting bedside manor. He had a passion for his work which he saw as helping the world's poor, forgotten and lonely. His care for patients was legendary. Stephen not only provided the bilingual support needed for caring for the many Hispanic patients of his clinics, but he always handled the most difficult cases. His colleagues considered him a mentor who was always accessible and turned to him for his insight and teaching. He had a passion for teaching medical providers. He enjoyed sharing his experiences as he mentored and educated numerous health professionals throughout the world. Stephen's awards and deeds are numerous: videos, electronic publications, original research articles and chapters on the care of HIV and Hepatitis infected persons; He served as the Chair of the US Department of Health and Human Services HIV/AIDS Bureau Treatment and Access to Care Committee; Consultant to the Southern Center for Human Rights; Medical editor HIV and Hepatitis Education prison project, and Editor and Educator Northwest AIDS Education Center. Stephen was preceded in death by his mother, Dora Tabet, his paternal grandparents, Frank and Emilia Tabet, and his maternal grandparents, Adan and Elsie Romero. Stephen is survived by his loving family: father, Frank Tabet Jr. of Belen; brothers, Frank P. Tabet of Belen, Dr. Adam J. Tabet MD and wife, Connie of Seattle, WA; sisters, Anna Chavez and husband, Sammy of Jarales, Janet Tabet-Romero and husband, Frank of Belen, and Estella Tabet; and mother, Mary Agnes Tabet of Los Lunas. Stephen adored and loved his nieces and nephews dearly: Marianne Padilla, Dora Ann and Joseph Chavez, and Noah and Alissa Tabet. Cremation has taken place and services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Monday, July 12, 2004. A visitation will be held at 8:00 a.m. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be his brothers, Frank and Adam Tabet; brother-in-laws, Frank Romero and Sammy Chavez; and nephews, Joseph Chavez and Noah Tabet. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.
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