Sidney L Saltzstein

Sidney L Sid' Saltzstein
May 31, 2017
El Cajon – Sidney Saltzstein, MD, MPH, died May 31, 2017. Sidney was born in Milwaukee; he moved to San Diego (El Cajon) in 1962 where he began a long and distinguished career in Pathology. He served in the Navy in World War II, then went to Yale University and The Johns Hopkins where he received his MD degree. After that, he began his medical career at Washington University's Barnes Hospital (St. Louis, MO). Sid was the Surgical Pathologist for San Diego's County Hospital which became University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center. He was the first UCSD Pathology Faculty Member and Chief of Surgical Pathology, a position he held for several decades. Sid was the founding chief and head of the Division of Anatomic Pathology at UCSD.Sid was a consultant in Pathology for the VA Naval Hospital and the Naval Regional Medical Center. He was active in the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society of Surgical Oncology, and American Association for Preventive Oncology. Sid was president of the American Association for Cancer Education and recognized with the Margaret Hay Edwards achievement medal awarded to an individual who has made a lifetime career of cancer education. He was extremely active with the American Cancer Society. Besides serving on the National, State, and County levels of the American Cancer Society, Sid was president for several terms of both the San Diego and California Divisions. He served 17 years on the board and was a lifetime member of the Board of Directors. Sid was also active in other cancer and cancer preventative organizations. He had authored and co-authored numerous medical publications, published and or copyrighted 9 computer programs and authored a book Cancer in the Chronologically Gifted. To quote several of his colleagues, "Sid was indeed one of the giants in Pathology and will always be remembered for his keen wit, his diagnostic eye, and his attention to detail." "Rather than allowing himself to become a curmudgeon, Sid has embraced challenges and change the hallmark of a great educator."For 23 years, following the death of his son, Jeffrey, Sid was active on both the National and State levels of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation. Later in his career and wanting to further his education, he earned his MPH at SDSU. Sid then studied the epidemiology of cancer. He was a member of several honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. In addition, Sid enjoyed travel by rail and volunteered regularly at the La Mesa Train Depot. He spent 10 years as a volunteer at the San Diego Natural History Museum.Sid leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years, Sally Freund Saltzstein. He was a devoted father and mentor to his children: Michael Saltzstein, Peggy Saltzstein Perkins, MD (John), Jeffrey Saltzstein (deceased), Douglas Saltzstein (Kathy), Edward "Ted" Saltzstein, and Sara Saltzstein, MD. Sid also is survived by grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He had a unique ability to build or repair just about anything which delighted his family.The family is grateful for the help and care from Interim Healthcare Hospice and loving friends.