Yale Blair Bickel

1935 - 2023

July 31, 1935 - February 2, 2023 It is with sadness the family of Yale Blair Bickel, MD, FACP announces his passing on February 2, 2023 at home in Long Beach, Ca. following a courageous battle with cancer. Yale was born July 31, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Benjamin and Sylvia Bickel who predeceased him. He was a graduate of the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy at Long Island University. Yale then graduated from the College of Osteopathy and Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri before moving to California where he earned his M.D. degree from the University of California at Irvine. Yale certified in Internal Medicine, Immunology, Chest Disease, and Rheumatology at UCLA and Harbor General Medical Center
and was instrumental in establishing the Internal Medicine Residency Program UCLA School of Medicine at St Mary Medical Center in Long Beach and served as Director for several years. His passion for learning and teaching was a guiding force throughout life, but his true love was patient care. He established Arthritis Consultants, Inc. medical group in Long Beach and dedicated to the care of people living with arthritis and immune disorders. He loved his patients and was tireless in partnering with them in their healthcare.
Yale is survived by his beloved wife, Mintzi Darby Bickel, his son Kyle Bickel, M.D.(Christine), daughters Dana Bickel Cicerone (Paul), Bari Bickel Cunningham, M.D. (Bob), step-daughter, Marni Darby and step-son Bruce Darby (Deena). He also leaves his beloved grandchildren, Kiley, Nicholas, Griffin, Eric, Charlotte, and Ethan, great-grandchildren Ryder and Ollie. Yale is survived by his brother, Eddie Bickel (Barbara) nephew Allen Bickel and niece Shari Bickel.
Yale will be remembered as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle. He was a brilliant physician, a lifelong scholar of medicine, a mentor to many, and a kind and treasured friend.
Services were conducted by Rabbi Abba Perelmuter on February 7, 2023 with interment at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park in Costa Mesa, California.