Sidney Raffel

August 24, 1911 - December 27, 2013 Professor Sidney "Zait" Raffel, MD, ScD, one of the best and last of a great generation, died on Friday, December 27, 2013 at his home in Stanford, California. He was 102 years old. A Baltimore, MD native of Latvian immigrants, he graduated from high school at 15, Johns Hopkins at 18 (BA) and 21 (ScD). He then traveled to California on a Poliomyelitis Fellowship, where he remained for his long career at Stanford University. His initial studies were in poliomyelitis research where he helped in the search for an effective vaccine. A few years after joining the Stanford faculty, he also studied for an MD at Stanford, while continuing with his research and teaching, graduating in 1942. He also did extensive research in tuberculosis, wrote a textbook (Immunity 1953; revised 1961), and as a pioneer immunologist, made seminal contributions to the field of cellular immunology, receiving many awards for his work. He was recognized as an academic leader by his Stanford peers, serving as Chair of his department from 1953, until his retirement in 1976. During this period, he helped oversee the move of the Medical School from San Francisco to Stanford, named Welch Rd. and Pasteur Dr., and was acting Dean of the Medical School from 1964-65. In addition, he received the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for Lifetime Achievement, as well as induction into the Society of Scholars at Johns Hopkins University. The greatest love of Sidney's life was his wife, Yvonne Fay, who, when they met, was the first Public Health Nurse at Stanford. She predeceased him in 2001. They had five daughters, all of whom he loved dearly and they were equally devoted to him: Linda, Gail (husband Bob), Polly (Eric), Cynthia (Bud), and Emily (Eldon), 12 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. The family enjoyed "Zait's" razor-sharp wit, as well as his recounting of boyhood days in Baltimore, his general philosophy of life, or any subject he might be musing about or analyzing for the good of all. Sidney with Yvonne traveled the world on four sabbaticals (Switzerland, Scotland, Japan and Iran), visited numerous institutes and universities, gave many academic presentations, such that they visited or lived in every continent except Africa. In retirement, Sidney took up oil painting and continued until very recently. He especially liked painting members of the family; portraits of all sizes line the walls of every room in his house on the Stanford campus. He also gave to many charitable institutions, and was a staunch supporter of Israel. Sidney maintained close friendships and mentorships with many of his former students and colleagues, who visited regularly. This past Holiday season found him in great spirits, and much of his family was with him on the day he died. He will be sorely missed by the many lives he touched, always for the better. A memorial service is planned for February. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Children's Health Council at Stanford, 650 Clark Way, Stanford, CA 94305, or to the charity of your choice.