Obituaries

Recent Obituaries
In Memoriam Archive

Leonard M. Goldberg ’51

July 5, 2019, in Portland, from complications of dementia.

Having skipped grades while growing up in Portland, Leonard started at Reed when was only 16. He lived at home, returning to campus most evenings to study in the library. A biology major, Leonard wrote his thesis, “A Study of the Effect of Thiocyanate and Thiourea on the Stored Iodine Content of the Thyroid Gland of the Frog (Rana pipiens)” with Prof. Frank Hungate [biology 1946–52] advising. Leonard earned his MD from the University of Oregon Medical School, married Dolly, and did his residency program at Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco. The couple returned to Portland to raise their family.

During his 60 years as a physician, Leonard became chief of cardiology at Portland’s Emanuel Hospital, where he mentored many young doctors and nurses and was chosen as the cardiologist-on-call for three U.S. presidents. Leonard’s life was centered on giving to and caring for his local community and the community of Jews around the world—especially Israel, which he and his wife, Dolly, deeply supported.

Leonard was a devoutly religious man and an observant Jew who prided himself on treating clergy of all religions without charge. He was a leader in his synagogue, served as president of the Jewish Federation of Portland, and was a board member of many charitable organizations. He is survived by his wife, Dolly, and their three children, Michelle, Ken, and Jerry.

Appeared in Reed magazine: December 2019

comments powered by Disqus