Leo Man of the Year Jim Stankiewicz: Devoted Doctor with Heart of Gold

James A. Stankiewicz, MD, blazed a "focused" path from Leo High School, class of 1966, to this year’s Leo Alumni Association “Man of the Year” honor.

Stankiewicz built his stellar career in medicine through devotion to patients’ healthcare and the guidance of the next generation of physicians.

Stankiewicz remains a self-described “blue-collar kid from the South Side” who attended St. Sabina Grade School and followed his Leo buddies to the softball fields of Kennedy, Beverly and Ridge Park during the summers.

Those who know him as “Jim” or “Stanks” speak of his “heart of gold” and generosity.

Stankiewicz went into medicine “to help people” and was recognized as the 2022 Strict Medalist for his 40-year journey helping to bring full accreditation - followed by international regard - to Loyola Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

There was but one person on staff when Dr. Stankiewicz arrived as an assistant professor. After a two-year turnaround beginning in 1980 - with added staff and professionals following the vision of Stankiewicz as Vice-Chair - the department thrived. He became full Chair serving from 2006-2016.

“Very focused,” said younger brother Mike, a 1970 Leo graduate. “Those accomplishments didn’t come without trials and tribulations” added Mike of his brother’s University of Chicago degree in biology and doctor of medicine degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in 1974.

In 1985, the Doctor of Otolaryngology founded the Nasal Sinus Center at Loyola University Medical Center, the first of its kind in the Chicagoland area “because it was needed,” he said.

Along the way Stankiewicz’ on-going financial commitment to Leo has resulted in tuition support for multiple Leo students across generations.

According to Leo President Dan McGrath, the doctor is a generous and engaged supporter of Leo, a regular at alumni events and the primary underwriter of the Class of 1966 Scholarship, which provides full tuition assistant to a deserving student-athlete in memory of Stankiewicz teammate Coe Francis, a standout football player from the Class of 1966 who died in a drowning accident the summer after graduation.

“Terrific honor for a terrific guy,” said McGrath. “Jim Stankiewicz is the embodiment of a Leo Man.”

Before he carried medical journals, he chased championships at Leo in football and basketball and was a member of Leo’s first baseball team in 1966. Stankiewicz served as co-captain of the 1966 Lightweight Catholic League champions, a team trailing at halftime to Weber in the title game. Teammate Jay Standring of Beverly promised everyone a turkey dinner at his house if they pulled out a title under coach Tom O’Malley.

“I don’t think his mom, Irene, was too thrilled but we had a great time at the dinner at the Standrings,” recalled Stankiewicz, who was one of the full-court press spark plugs who erased a 13-point deficit en route to Leo’s Catholic League title at DePaul’s Alumni Hall.

While a proud contributor to Leo’s undefeated 1962 freshman football team, Stankiewicz’ father had other plans for his son that did not include football. When Leo played in the championship in 1966, Stankiewicz donned a Leo cheerleader outfit to root on the Lions.

“I would much rather have been on the field playing but back in those days we had boy cheerleaders so I did my part,” said Stankiewicz.

“That just show what kind of Leo guy Stanks is,” said Standring. “Just to come out cheering for us when he could have been playing says it all.”

Stankiewicz finished Leo as an honor-roll student, a class officer and a three-sport athlete.

Stankiewicz balanced the challenges of studies at the University of Chicago with baseball and football outlets, along with intramural basketball. He served as president of his fraternity. During his medical school residency he served a two-year military obligation using a little political pull to jump from the Marines to the U.S. Navy, accelerating his trajectory in medicine while serving in San Francisco.

Professionally, he has performed more than 20,000 nasal or sinus procedures, shared with his peers 300 medical papers and delivered more than 500 presentations on nasal and sinus disorders.

Devotion to the medicine and the comfort and care of others is the stamp that distinguishes Dr. Stankiewicz in his field and among his fellow Leo Men as the 2023 Alumni Association Leo Man of the Year.

Looking back on his career, Stankiewicz regards his Leo years as “the greatest time of my life.”

Dr. Jim Stankiewicz ’66 has been selected as Leo Alumni Association Man of the Year and will be recognized at Leo’s annual Alumni Banquet on Friday, April 28 at Chateau Del Mar in Hickory Hills.

Ron Malec ’46 (Doc Driscoll Award) and Antwayne “Tony” Spivy ’92 (Community Service) are this year’s other award recipients. The six-member Hall of Fame class includes Renardo “Rick” Hall ’72, the late Bill Holland ’73, Fred Nelson III ’77 and three of the eight Marks Brothers to attend Leo: Albert ’64, William ’66 and Daniel ’67.