Dr. Eleanor Maloney Smergel, 59

Eleanor Maloney Smergel, 59, of Haddonfield, a radiologist at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and an associate professor at Drexel University's College of Medicine, died of breast cancer Feb. 15 while in hospice care.

As a pediatric radiologist, Dr. Smergel enjoyed the challenge of performing CAT scans and MRIs on tiny bodies, said her husband, Henry.

"She was loved by the entire hospital and respected by all," said Eric Faerber, director of St. Christopher's radiology department, who knew Dr. Smergel for the 24 years that she worked there.

Dr. Smergel was compassionate and kind not only with her young patients but also with her medical students and residents.

"She was an excellent teacher who maintained the highest standards," Faerber said. "She was characterized by her warmth, grace, and dignity."

Dr. Smergel was director of the St. Christopher's Radiology Training Program. She also was associate professor of radiological sciences at Drexel's College of Medicine.

Almost every day before work or classes, Dr. Smergel was out on the Schuylkill by 5:30 a.m., ready to practice with her dragon-boat racing teams.

Shortly after her cancer was diagnosed in 2001, Dr. Smergel joined Hope Afloat, a team of cancer survivors, her husband said.

She enjoyed paddling so much that she joined the Schuylkill Dragons, a competitive team, and the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Association, which has won many national competitions and essentially many world competitions as Team USA.

She became well-known in the paddling community and traveled all over the world for competitions, teammate Ruth Desiderio said.

Her team described her as "a quiet warrior," Desiderio wrote in an e-mail.

With a gentle demeanor and a thin physique, Dr. Smergel was not intimidating on land.

But in the water, everything changed.

"She was tough as nails on the water and rose to every challenge, with never a boast or a swagger," Desiderio wrote.

"She was amazing . . . full speed ahead," she said in an interview.

Dr. Smergel was born in Texas, where her father was stationed in the Air Force. As a girl, she lived in several states and countries, including West Germany and France, before settling in Chevy Chase, Md., for her high school years.

She majored in biology at Swarthmore College, graduating in 1969, and went on to Johns Hopkins University as a research technician. She attended Georgetown University Medical School, where she met her future husband. They married in 1978 and graduated a year later.

Both landed residencies in Philadelphia, Dr. Smergel at St. Christopher's Hospital in radiology.

Because she went full circle at St. Christopher's - starting as a resident and eventually teaching residents - she got to know almost everyone on staff. Her presence is missed, Faerber said.

In addition to her husband, Dr. Smergel is survived by a son, Jacob; a daughter, Emily; a brother; and a sister.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave., Haddonfield, where prayers will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Grieving Children, Teens and Families, 1139 E. Luzerne St., Philadelphia 19124.