James "Jim" Pado

Jim Pado was born on August 6, 1976. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Carol (nee Goldenberg) and his brother Matthew and others in his extended family...

James died unexpectedly on November 6, 2024. He grew up in Port Tobacco, Maryland, graduating with academic honors from McDonough High School in 1994. He attended the University of Pittsburg at Johnstown for a year, majoring in Computer Science. Devastating health problems forced him to leave college in his second year. For the next two years, he successfully fought to overcome organ failure, partial paralysis, and loss of speech along with several other challenges. His doctors often described his recovery as “miraculous”.

He worked in several machine shops and Beretta Firearms, then successfully completed a sheet metal worker apprenticeship. He left the sheet metal trade to work for Insurance Auto Auctions in Baltimore, and remained with them until he passed. He was very fond of his co-workers, and was known as an excellent worker and a prankster.

He loved his family and family gatherings, and enjoyed life moment by moment.

He always had a kind word and a helping hand for others. He lived modestly, but was generous to others. He loved the Laurel community, and often commented on how wonderful his neighbors were.

His quirky sense of humor and fascination with every little detail of the world around him made him unique. He was an avid writer. One of his ongoing works was “Jimstory”...funny, made-up stories about historical events, plus comments and questions like “Why are there 104 teabags in a box of Lipton Tea? Is that some kind of standard in the tea bag industry?” He sent out a weekly email with a new “Jimstory” installment to a circle of friends and family.

The Pado Family thanks everybody for their kind thoughts, prayers, and condolences during this heartbreaking time. Contributions to Jim’s memory can be made to MedStar/National Rehabilitation Hospital, which did a miraculous job in helping Jim regain his life.

Interment will be private. A celebration of Jim’s life will held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 starting at 2:00 p.m. at Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, 4400 Powder Mill Rd., Beltsville, MD.