Dr. Anthony “Tony” Perlman, a retired cardiologist who had been chief of pediatric cardiology at what is now the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, died Wednesday at his Mount Washington home from complications of a stroke. He was 92.

“Tony had a great knack with patients and their parents. They took his advice as gospel, and they would do anything he said to do,” said Dr. Deborah G. Bittar, a Towson pediatrician. “He was very passionate about his patients, and if one was hospitalized, he made sure that everything was done in a timely manner. He was fiercely loyal to everyone.”

The son of Charles Perlman, a businessman, and Amy Perlman, an actress, Anthony Perlman was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He graduated in 1940 from King Edward Preparatory School in Johannesburg. His medical education was interrupted as he served during World War II in the 5th Division of the South African Army. He participated in the Italian campaign in 1944.

After the war, he continued his education and earned his medical degree in 1948 from the University of Witwatersrand School of Medicine, also in Johannesburg.

After interning in general surgery and internal medicine, he went into pediatrics.

In 1950, he came to Baltimore and worked as a fellow in pediatric cardiology under Dr. Helen Taussig, the legendary pediatric cardiologist who, along with Dr. Alfred Blalock and laboratory technician Vivien Thomas, perfected the “blue baby” operation that established the field of cardiac surgery.

Dr. Perlman also served as an assistant resident in pediatrics at Hopkins.

After he married Patsy Miller in 1953, the couple spent six months in South Africa, then returned to Baltimore when he was appointed chief resident in pediatrics at the old Sinai Hospital on East Monument Street.

In the early 1950s, he went into private practice as a pediatrician with a specialty in pediatric cardiology with Dr. Alexander Shaffer and Dr. Milton Markowitz in an office on Calvert Street.

He later joined with Dr. Donald Klein in 1958 and established a practice on Bellona Avenue, then moved to an office on East Joppa Road in Towson. After Dr. Bittar joined the practice in 1990, it relocated to York Road in Towson.

“As a young pediatrician, Tony was very helpful in helping me learn the style of the practice and its continuity. He had taken care of several generations of families,” said Dr. Bittar, who later took over the practice after Dr. Perlman and Dr. Klein retired. After merging with another practice, it was renamed Main Street Pediatrics.

“He had a great laugh, and at times could be stern. He wasn't afraid to make his opinions known,” she said.

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Perlman was chief of pediatric cardiology at the old Baltimore City Hospitals — now Johns Hopkins Bayview — from 1954 to 1980. He was responsible for pediatric cardiology at Sinai Hospital from 1955 to 1973 and from 1962 to 1994 was director of the Panhandle Pediatric Cardiology Clinic at the Berkeley County Health Department in Martinsburg, W.Va.

“His tender bedside manner and compassionate care of the patient and their families came out of a bygone era where house calls were standard care,” a son, Dr. Daniel Perlman of Denver, wrote in an email.

Dr. Perlman's professional memberships included serving as president of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of pediatrics from 1983 to 1986. He served on the board of the American Heart Association, Maryland Chapter, from 1955 to 1972. In 2013, he was presented a Special Achievement Award by the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

He was a resident of Mount Washington's Pill Hill neighborhood since 1955. He supported Israel and was chairman of the Associated Jewish Charities Medical Division from 1966 to 1968, and was a board member of Jewish Family Services of Baltimore from 1991 to 2000.

After retiring in 1994, he became a woodworker and sculptor. He was also an avid gardener and maintained a forest garden, family members said, and also cultivated bonsai plants.

He enjoyed the theater and concerts, and supported Everyman Theatre, Shriver Hall Concert Series and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

He had been a runner and played rugby during his high school years, and later in life enjoyed jogging, running, walking and fishing.

He was a member of the Suburban Club and an avid skier. He was a founder of Ski Roundtop Mountain Resort in Lewisberry, Pa., and was a member of its board of directors from 1965 to 1980.

He was a member of Beth Am Synagogue in Baltimore.

Funeral services were held Friday at Sol Levinson & Bros. in Pikesville

In addition to his wife of 62 years and son, Dr. Perlman is survived by another son, Eric Perlman of New Paltz, N.Y.; a daughter, Ellen Kate Perlman of Baltimore; a sister, Vivien Marchesani of Cape Town, South Africa; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

frasmussen@baltsun.com