Carium Joseph

Carium Joseph, MD (b.10/6/29), son of Moses and Sadda Joseph of Greeleyville, SC entered into eternal rest on Monday January 5, 2026. He is survived by his children, Kathy Joseph Macaron, Kevin Joseph, Dr. Molly Joseph (Scott Pressler) , Amy Joseph Collins (Bryan Collins), Jennifer Joseph Fraser (Keith Fraser); his grandchildren, Megan Geckle Giebler (Matthew Giebler), Dr. Hannah Pressler, Luke Pressler, Jennifer Joseph, Elise Macaron, Chase Collins, Caroline Collins, Courtney Collins and his great granddaughter, Maggie Giebler. He is pre-deceased by his late wife, Peggy Conroy Joseph (d.6/2/22), their eldest daughter Karen Joseph (d.10/24/09), his daughter-in-law, Sally Ballard Joseph (d.12/06/04), his son-in-law Elie Macaron (d.2/20/21) and his brothers, Philip Joseph, Joe Joseph, Fred Joseph, Kelly Joseph, and his sisters, Janey Shahid, Sarah Shaluely, and Marie Snyder.

He graduated as Valedictorian of his high school class in 1946 from Greeleyville High School. He received his B.S. in Biology from Georgetown University in 1950. He attended the Georgetown University School of Medicine and received his M.D. degree in 1954. A Rotating Internship was completed at the DC General Hospital in Washington, D.C. in June 1955. He then volunteered to serve in the United States Air Force for a two year period.

During his service tour he traveled through the Middle East and adjacent countries as a Captain in the USAF while being stationed at the base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for one year. He became an interim Hospital Commander for several months when the Hospital Commander had to return to the States for other duties.

Upon completion of his tour of service, he began his OBGYN residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC July 1, 1957. During his first year of training, he met the love of his life, Peggy Ann Conroy, who was in her second year in the Georgetown School of Nursing. She graduated in 1959 and he completed his residency on June 30, 1960. They were married July 5, 1960 and moved to Charleston, SC to pursue his dream of starting a solo practice in OBGYN and raise a family.

His purpose and approach in his marriage, family and professional life was rooted in his Jesuit education. In care of the patient, he tended to the wholeness of their being and his patients truly felt the sincerity of his care. He often spoke that the true sign of success was meeting the individual needs of the patient. His great moment of joy during his 45 years of practice in OBGYN was when his daughter, Dr. Molly Joseph, joined the practice as a partner in 1996. He had the honor and pleasure of practicing with her for ten years before retiring on September 1, 2006.

Carium was a devoted Catholic parishioner of the Blessed Sacrament Parish since 1962, where he and his wife Peggy, with the support of the local Bishop, initiated the PreCana conference program for engaged couples. He also continued service to his community as Chairman of Georgetown University Alumni Admissions program for SC for 45 yrs.

One of his greatest accomplishments during his tenure as Chief of the OBGYN Department at St. Francis Hospital was the program he started, originally named "Fathers in the Delivery Room". It became very successful and within several months it was adopted by the other area community hospitals. He firmly believed this was a constructive effort to promote the family as the social unit of our community at the very beginning of parenting. The joy of seeing the anxious parents upon viewing their newborn infant for the first time was indeed a humbling privilege and honor for him.

His nonprofessional activities were family oriented. He promoted exercise as part of one's lifestyle and encouraged individual responsibility for their health as may be guided by their physician. Blessed with six children, he lived those same lifestyle principles. He enjoyed tennis, golf, running, biking, long walks and in his 80s and 90s he took up water aerobics. He was an avid reader well into his last few months of life as he never stopped seeking the value of intellectual stimulation and learning that the Jesuits instilled in him at an early age. He was humble, kind, and a generous happy man who enjoyed life and meeting people. He truly felt blessed to be an OBGYN physician and have the privilege of caring for his patients and to have the company of his family and children throughout his life.

He was a member of the Charleston County Medical Society, the Medical Society of SC, the SC Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the S.C. OBGYN Society, the American College of OBGYN, active Member of all area hospitals, including Clinical Associate of the Medical University Hospital OBGYN Department and also served a tenure as Chief of Infectious Disease at Roper Hospital in his early professional career. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a founding member of the Optimist Club of Charleston.

Family and friends of Dr. Carium Joseph are invited to attend his visitation between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM Thursday January 15, 2025 at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC. The Rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:30 PM Friday, January 16th, 2025 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 5 Saint Teresa Drive, Charleston, SC. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Dr. Carium Joseph to the Blessed Sacrament Parish Life Center at www.scbss.org/giving

Arrangements by James A. McAlister, (843) 766-1365.