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Joseph Bloomfield Obituary

Joseph Robert (Bob) Bloomfield

Joseph Robert, Bob or Bobby, Bloomfield, surrounded by his children and wife, passed away on May 24, 2013 in Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Torrance, California, the hospital he helped to found 40 years ago. He was 89.Born in the British community of the International Settlement of Shanghai, China, Bobby was the youngest child and only surviving son of Jacques Blumenfeld originally of Galati, Romania and later a Jewish Emigrant to Manchester, England, and of Tetsu (Ohana) Kusuda of Shimabara, Kyushu, Japan. He grew up with four older sisters Esther, Regina (Jeanie), Deborah (Debby) and Rebecca (Mabel). His father died when Bobby was one year old leaving him to be raised by his Japanese mother, his Japanese nanny, Kitty, and his four older sisters.

Interned by the Japanese along with most of the British and other civilians of Shanghai, Bob and his sisters were imprisoned in the Lunghua Civilian Assembly Center until August 1945. This experience was formative. It was during these years in prison camp between the ages of 19 to 21 that Bob determined that he would become a physician.

After the war, Bob sailed to San Francisco on board a Liberty ship. He was welcomed by his sister Debby and her husband Alexander Buchman to live with them in Los Angeles. In 1946 Bob attended and graduated from UCLA (A.B., Honors), then was accepted to the University of Chicago School of Medicine, where he met Joyce Jedlicka, also a U of C student, and the love of his life. They married in 1950 and remained so for 62 years until his death. After graduating from medical school in 1952 with honors, he took a residency at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bob's and Joyce's two daughters, Kim and Brenda were born there in 1953 and 1957. Upon completing his residency, he joined a family practice in Vancouver until 1959 when the family moved to Redondo Beach, California. There his son, Brian, was born in 1960.

Dr. Bloomfield practiced family medicine in Torrance from 1959 to 1998. He served as chief of staff of Riviera Hospital in Torrance, was a member of the joint Boards of Directors of Riviera and Torrance Memorial Hospital during their merger, and afterwards on the Board of Directors of Torrance Memorial Hospital, 1967-1975. He was instrumental in the transition from Riviera Hospital to the then new Torrance Memorial Hospital in 1971. He was chief of the Department of Family Practice at both hospitals. Dr. Bloomfield also served as medical director of the Alcoholism Recovery Service of South Bay Hospital of Redondo Beach from 1984 to 1987.

After retirement, Dr. Bob, as many called him, directed his prodigious energies toward his wife, the Pacific Unitarian Church, the needs of his three sisters, who were older by 6, 14 and 16 years, his children, grandchildren and his garden, not necessarily in that order. But squash playing was one of his greatest enjoyments. He was one of the founders of the South Bay Squash Racquets Club in Torrance and played until he could play no more. He always tried to play his best, and with all his heart, whether in the game of squash or of life until it was no longer possible. Bob exemplified the life well-played and fully-lived, one day at a time, with courage and faith, and belief in the goodness of himself and of others. We hope to have those qualities live on in us. Bobby, Bob, Dad ,Grampy, thank you. We will miss you always.

He is survived by his wife Joyce Grace, his daughters Kim Bloomfield of Copenhagen, Denmark and Brenda Bloomfield-Martinez (Samuel) of Oakland, grandsons Mateo and Marco Antonio Martinez, and son Brian Bloomfield of Santa Barbara, California. Contributions may be made to Bob's beloved Pacific Unitarian Church, 5621 Montemalaga Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, 310.378.9449, www.pacificunitarian.org. Please sign the guestbook
at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.

Published by Daily Breeze on Jun. 30, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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Dear Joyce and family, I share your feeling in the loss of Bob. He was such a good friend in our medical complex. He was such a good physician to our family. My whole family remembers his kind and gentle ways. Much love and sympathy, Sterling Ottesen

July 20, 2013

Dear Family--I am glad to have been a friend and associate with Bob at the Riviera Medical and Dental Center. He was a fine man and doctor. L. James Ottesen, D.D.S.

July 18, 2013

Dr. Bloomfield will always be special. He delivered me some fifty one years ago at Torrance Riviera Hospital. He was the first to spank my little behind. All my love to the Bloomfield family.

Martin Wood

July 13, 2013

My thoughts go out to the family. I have nothing but fond memories of Riviera Hospital, the Kent Avenue office, Ruth, Barbara, the Highlight magazines and oh yeah, those house calls. Which only meant we were sick so not so much the later. When I went on to work at the sleepy little TMH in '74 where the ICU was six beds and the nurses lounge was full of cigarette smoke, he and Dr. Stewart would brighten my day when they would greet me during the course of their rounds. I never knew him as "Bob." My five siblings would sometimes refer to him as Dr. Boom Boom as it was easier rolling off a youngster's tongue. I'm sad but happy at the same time. That he lived such a long and fruitful life, we should all be so lucky. I'll hold these memories close in my thought chest. Thanks so much Dr.J.R.Bloomfield.

Garrett Lee

July 13, 2013

Dear Brian and Family,

My deepest and sincere condolences on the passing of your father. My father had great respect for Dr. Bloomfield and valued his friendship very much. He had told me your father had lived a remarkable life. After reading his story I now know what my father meant. Truly an amazing man and a legacy you can be very proud of.
I also have very fond personal memories of your father announcing our baseball games at the Palos Verdes Little League. Those were great times.

When my father passed away, I greatly appreciated the kind words I received from you and your father. It helped very much. Losing a father can be a tough and surreal experience. But the many good memories will always remain.

I wish you my very best during this difficult time.

Bill Cook

July 13, 2013

To the family of Dr Bloomfield - I want to share what a great man he was from the persective of one of his patients. I was a patient for a decade prior to his retirement. Dr Bloodfield was kind, patient, and showed genuine interest. One of the things that stood out was his sharing of a recipe of over-the-counter medication for the common cold: cough, running noise, congestion, etc. If that didn't work, he would write me a prescription for a more powerful remedy. I will always remember him as my doctor because if the fond memeries I have of him.

Sincerely and God Bless you all,

Richard Chan, still a resident of Torrance

July 8, 2013

You will be missed!

Reginald Nunn

July 6, 2013

Bob's dedication to social justice for women, people of color, and the under-served will forever endure in my mind. He was a brilliant architect of speaking truth to power. He will be missed.

Constance Jackson

July 5, 2013

I miss your caring demeanor and the smile with which you always greeted me. Be at rest...

July 5, 2013

So many of us miss Bob. My deepest condolences to this family.

Patricia Hart

July 5, 2013

We have never found another Dr. to replace him after his retirement. All others are lacking his touch and care. our sympathy to his family for a huge loss!

Marion & Gary Gray

July 4, 2013

I am saddened to hear about the death of Dr. Bloomfield. He was my doctor, and my family's doctor, for many years until he retired. He was like a rock to me and I was always felt comforted when I was with him. I bumped into him in Sprouts a couple of years' ago and he was still had the same somewhat "cheeky" manner!
He will be sorely missed and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family.

Valerie Mobbs
Torrance

July 3, 2013

Dr. Bloomfield was truly a wonderful and caring man. He made a big impact on my sons life, with his loving and understanding ways. He gave you a feeling of family. He loved his family and was very proud of them.
My love and sympathy goes out to his family. Remember the good and happy times, he will be missed.
God Bless,
Judy Erickson-Ciampa and Jeffery Erickson
Torrance,CA

Judy Erickson-Ciampa

July 3, 2013

We would like to send our deepest sympathy to Bob's entire family. He was indeed a wonderful physician and delivered all three of our children in 1961, '63, and '65. We have kept in touch over the years and he will be missed by us and so many others. With thanks.

Martin and Pamela Deckett
Port Townsend, WA & Rancho Mirage, CA.

July 2, 2013

I was saddened to read about Dr. Bloomfield's passing. He was our family doctor from 1963 until his retirement. He was a kind, caring, funny and truly a remarkable man. We all had the utmost respect and love for Bob. He will always be a part of us, and so many other lives he touched. Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. God Bless.

Lisa Vincent

July 2, 2013

Reading about the early formative years your Bob experienced was almost a duplicate of my Bob's years. My late husband Shanghai Bob was born and raised in Shanghai 1940-1958. Both grew up adults in children's shoes and went on to make our world better. Your Bob helped me find missing pieces to my Bob's life. He talked with me of his early life and put me in contact with other resources to complete my mission. Your Bob took his time with everyone he met. Eventually I would love to share his stories with pictures, etc. Take good care of yourselves. You are blessed with years of wonderful memories. Shalom, Faith Goldman

Faith Goldman

July 1, 2013

Our entire family is saddened by the passing of this remarkable man. He carried three generation of us through baby deliveries, surgeries, and all of our general health care, illnesses and medical needs. We were privileged to have had him attend to us throughout all of his years of practice. It was a difficult day when he retired and I have yet to find a physician that meets his match.
Recently I visited my mom who asked of him and I told her I had not run into him as I usually would on occasion at the grocery store or drug store. It had been some time since I had been able to give him a big hug which would bring forth that beautiful smile to his handsome face. He was always full of questions about our family and he truly was such a caring, concerned and interesting man. My children--who called him "Dr. Man"--adored him and he always doted on them--carrying them around the office showing them off (naked) and I worried they would pee on him but he had no cares about that.
A few years ago, my husband had a heart issue and was having a procedure done at Torrance Memorial and had to arrive at 0'dark thirty, and in walked Dr. Bloomfield and his wife as he was to undergo something similar. We talked and he spoke of his impatience with his declining health-he had so much more life to live--but even as he battled this, he gave his utmost attention to our lives and was happy to see us. I was fortunate to bump into him two more times from then on.
Dr. Bloomfield made such a contribution, not only to my whole immediate and extended family, but to this community and to the world of medicine at large. My deepest condolences to the family. May his qualities filter down to all of you and in this, his legacy will carry on. He always exhibited such pride in all of you.

May you rest in peace, "Dr. Man".

Dorothy Gaye Mikelson

July 1, 2013

Dr. B. was my first Dr. here in the states.I was 5. I remember Ruth too. I am sorry to all the family, but just remember he was a wonderful man. He was kind to all of us. RIP

Lynn Berger

June 30, 2013

I am not sure we have the words to share with the family how sorry we are to hear this news. He delivered both of my brothers, and I am not sure if we were accident prone but we spent a lot of time in his office on Kent, in that wood paneled waiting room, reading highlight magazines, listening to Ruth answer the phone. Not once were we ever scared of seeing the Dr. because Dr. Bloomfield is the BEST. The last time I ran into him I was pregnant with my 1st child and he asked how far along I was and then said I needed to gain more weight(always the Dr.)He is such a special memory in our family and we are so very sad for your loss but feel very blessed to have known him. RIP

Karen Sack-Davis

June 30, 2013

Dear Bloomfield Family,
We were saddened to read about Bob's passing in May. He was our family physician from 1959 until his retirement. I'm sure there are many others like us, but we are somewhat unique.
Ann and I and our three young sons moved to California from the Air Force when I joined North American Aviation in November of 1958. When we purchased a home in Palos Verdes in early 1959, I told a gentleman I worked with that we needed to find a good family practice doc for our family. His name was Alex Buchman, and he said he knew just the right person for the job. His brother-in-law, Bob Bloomfield, had just opened a family practice in Torrance and was looking for new patients. Alex had the solution to both of our problems.
The rest is history, and soon we had two additional daughters to add to Bob's work load. Bob was more than just our doctor to us; and it really saddened us when he retired, although we didn't begrudge him doing so, since I had done the same thing two years earlier. He was always on my case to join him in squash, but I told him I would rather jog and see the scenery. In reality, I din't want him to beat me, and I knew that would be inevitable if I played him.
I would occasionally run into him in Torrance Memorial in Ben Rosin's area. He would always stop the nurses and and say "this guy was one of my first patients!". Him saying that pleased us both.
He has already been missed; but now even more so. God bless.
Jim & Ann McCurry
Rancho Palos Verdes.

June 30, 2013

My condolences to His wife and Children. He was my first doctor when when I can to the USA. and deliver two of my children, and felt like an angel when he came and sat with me for three hours when I had the first one was born. He introduced my husband to the world of squash. and was one of the kindest people I know. R.I.P.

Dorothy White

June 30, 2013

MY condolences to the family, He was a wonderful doctor, he delivered 2 of my children, One is celebrating his 50 th birthday this week and the other is 48 yrs old. Thank you Doctor Bloomfield. R.I.P.

June 26, 2013

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