Elliott Michael (Ollie) Feigenbaum died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, surrounded by his adoring family, after a long and happy life.
Born Dec. 1, 1921 in Philadelphia to Sam and Jessie Feigenbaum, he eventually landed permanently in San Francisco as an anesthesia intern at Mount Zion Hospital. As a beneficiary of the federal V-12 program, he attended Tulane University and the University of Arkansas Medical School, and briefly the Podiatry School of San Francisco, but he preferred to consider himself an honorary alum of his adopted alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley.
In January 1950, Ollie wed his sweetheart, Laurel Hill, whom he affectionately called Arnold, and they remained happily married for 66+ years. In addition to Laurel, he leaves three children: Judy Katsin (Daniel), Peter Feigenbaum (Cheryl) and Carol Staenberg (Michael). Ollie was so proud of his seven grandchildren: Sam and Hillary Katsin, Elizabeth and Andrew Feigenbaum, and Rachael Brightfield (Joel), Hannah and Leah Staenberg. His great delight was great-granddaughter Rosalind Brightfield. Predeceased by his younger brother, Larry, and sister-in-law, Marian, Ollie also is survived by their children, Paul Feigenbaum (Judy Kemeny), Robert (Ludy) Feigenbaum and Ellen Feigenbaum (Peter Schwab), and their families, and cousin Susie Jestadt.
During a successful career as an anesthesiologist, Ollie did something unusual for the era, and began a new career as a psychiatrist. He returned to residency in the early 1960s at Langley Porter Institute and became somewhat of a pioneer in the budding field of gerontology.
For much of his life, Ollie was an enthusiastic golfer, who once shot a 76, and an aspiring baseball player, whose name would’ve been “Mike Elliott.” Active and interested in the world throughout his life, he particularly enjoyed attending “school” at the Fromm Institute. Ollie was a Korean War veteran. He served in a MASH unit, which he believed to be the basis of the popular TV series, and he enjoyed sharing stories of the unit’s escapades, even lecturing about the experience to his fellow Fromm students.
Ollie was a lifelong S.F. Giants fan who required his soup extra hot and his martinis extra dry with an olive and an onion. Widely known for his sparkling blue eyes, his big smile, his great sense of humor and his warm, sweet nature, he will be greatly missed by his many fans, admirers and loved ones.
The family would especially like to thank the amazing team of carers/companions who made his life easier, Metkel Tecle, Mehret Haile and Nicky Magat.
Funeral services were held. Memorial donations preferred to the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(415) 921-3636