Title: Turn off life support better than being quad
Fall at restaurant kills LaPorte man
March 10, 2005�
By Stan Maddux / Post-Tribune correspondent
MICHIGAN CITY — After finishing his meal at a Michigan City restaurant, Stanley Stepanek, 85, got up to use the restroom. But he chose the door leading to the basement and tumbled down the stairs.
The retired mail carrier will be buried Friday.
He died Monday after his wife of nearly 62 years, Sophia, gave permission to shut off his life support.
”They told me he would never, ever come home again and that he would be like Christopher Reeve. It was a big decision I had to make,’’ she said.
Saturday, the Stepaneks drove to Michigan City to run errands and pick up a few things.
Before heading back home to LaPorte, Stepanek said they decided to stop at Charlie’s on East Barker Avenue, one of their favorite restaurants.
After finishing his meal and having a glass of wine, Stepanek said her husband got up to use the restroom.
He unknowingly opened the door to the basement and began fishing around for the light switch, she said.
”All I heard was 'I can’t find the light’ so I told the waitress to show Stan the light,’’ Stepanek said.
He then fell down the stairs.
LaPorte County Coroner Dr. Vidya Kora said the cause of death was a broken neck that resulted in cardiac arrest. He also had a damaged spinal cord, he said.
Stepanek was resuscitated by paramedics at the scene then put on a breathing machine at St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers, Kora said.
”It was a freak accident. A very unfortunate accident and my heart goes out to him and his family,’’ Kora said.
Stepanek only had a trace of alcohol in his system, Kora said.
At the advice of his insurance company, restaurant owner Charlie Morgan said he would not discuss the accident.
He did say the restrooms are clearly marked.
”It was just a tragic accident and that’s about all I can say about it,’’ Morgan said.
Despite being steady customers at the restaurant, Stepanek said she could not recall her husband ever using the restroom there, so he probably didn’t know exactly where he was going.
”We are very, very big believers in God and we feel that this was his time. There’s nothing we can do. I will miss him terribly,’’ Mrs. Stepanek said.
Stepanek was a mail carrier in the LaPorte area for 38 years until his retirement in the late 1970s.
Michigan City Police Detective Bureau Commander Lt. Tom Howe said there will be no further investigation into the death.
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