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L. F. "Fritz" Fenster M.D.

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Stanford University University of Washington

L. Fenster Obituary

L. F. "Fritz" FENSTER M. D. 1931~2011 Born in San Francisco, October 31, 1931. He died at home in Seattle, January 19, 2011. Dr. Fenster was educated at Lowell High School, vvhere he was President of his Senior Class and All City Basketball. He then went to Stanford University (B.A. magna cum laude in History and Phi Beta Kappa, graduated in 1953. He graduated from Harvard Medical School (cum laude and Alpha Omega Alpha in 1957. He was an intern and resident at Yale-Grace New Haven Hospital And spent a third year there as a Fellow in liver diseases under Dr. Gerald Klatskin. He was then Chief Medical Resident at King County Hospital (now Harborview Medical Center) and the University of Washington in Seattle, Wa. He then served two years as clinical associate at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland" He was then Section Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at King County Hospital over four years before joining The Mason Clinic in 1967. He was the head of the sub-section of hepatology for over twenty years and retired form clinical practice in October 1993. Dr. Fenster was very involved with healthcare quality and cost-effectiveness issues for decades, both at Virginia Mason Medical Center, and also as a participant in the Washington State PSRO and Joint Commission quality efforts. He was formerly chairman of the Practice Patterns Task Force at Virginia Mason. This group was charged with finding ways to reduce waste and inefficiencies in the way physicians practice. Between 1991 and 1997 He was the Medical Director of the Office of Value Assessment (OVA) at Virginia Mason. For many years He was also associate chairman of the QA (quality assessment) Committee of the VM Medical Center. He was a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington from 1975 until his retirement and was also Clinical Professor in the Department of Health Services from 1997 to retirement. In 1991 He was awarded the R.H. Williams Leadership in Medicine Award by the Seattle Academy of Internal Medicine. In 1995 he won the James Tate Mason Award of the Virginia Mason Medical Center" In 1997 he received the annual "Distinguished Clinician" award given by the American Gastroenterologic Association. He won several "best teacher" awards over his career. He is survived by his niece, Lisa Walters Girard of Gualala, California. No services were held at his request. Remembrances can be donated to the Council for Secular Humanism, 1310 Sweet Home Road, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, New York 14226-0064 Sign Fritz's on-line Guest Book at www.Legacy.com.

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Published by The Seattle Times from Jan. 28 to Jan. 30, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for L. Fenster

19 Entries

Andrew Dym

November 4, 2011

I trained as a resident at Virginia Mason in the late 80's. He was a remarkable teacher and I still carry the things I learned from him to this day. He was passionate about the quality and cost of healthcare and spoke about it 25 years ago when it wasn't on anybody's radar. I have thought in the past few years that his voice would be a good one for our current discussion of the direction of healthcare. I often saw him reading the paper in the Madison Park Starbucks and thought about asking him to speak about healthcare reform again, but was too shy to ask. He will be missed.

Evelyn Goodel

September 2, 2011

I knew Fritz through his mother, Elizabeth Robson, his stepfather, Dr. Bernard Robson, and his sister and niece Betty and Lisa. Our family and the Robsons spent many good times together. Fritz and I exchanged Christmas cards the last few years. He always seemed like the ideal fellow--smart, funny, good politics, interested and interesting. I'm sorry our paths didn't cross more often. I am sorry not to have seen more of him.
Evelyn Goodell Hills, B.C.

Dana Senders

May 6, 2011

Love you Fritz

Dana Senders

May 6, 2011

Fritz was part of our family. He spent every Thanksgiving with us. He always had a debate with my mom on some current. Event I enjoyed his hard nose approach at my mom. He always ate the turkey leg his favorite .mom burnt the gravy once fritz gave her s$&$ about it every year! Loved him for that. I am sadden by our loss but I am sure he is listening to music and debating my mom. I am missing your laugh Fritz!

Roger Senders

May 6, 2011

Those of us who knew and continue to love Fritz are as shocked as I am to learn of his death. I have known Fritz nearly 50 years. Fritz was a close family friend. Fritz inspired with his wit, wisdom, sharp mind and sharp tongue. Fritz was competitive in the best sense striving to do the best he could knowing that it would push others to do and be the best they could.

I loved talking with Fritz, about the world and politics which frustrated the hell out of him, about Stanford and Husky football which enthused him (other than when I could rib him about my Oregon Ducks beating his teams), about medicine, about tennis and about life. I know Fritz was adamant about there being no God or afterlife although at times, he at least acquiesced that there was a possibility that there was some greater entity than we individually.

So Fritz, the last laugh's on you, because I KNOW that you are conscious and chuckling right now at this gentle tease and I am very happy that you are! Get back in touch in your next life please, or even from your current dimension. (Yes, Fritz. You can roll your eyes whenever you'd like.) Whether you do or not, Fritz, you continue to inspire me and your memories bring me great joy. Thank you!

Orlando Veguilla

March 12, 2011

In more ways than one, Dr. Fenster has indeed touched many lives more than he will ever know. For those whom had the honor to hear his spoken words or have received touching emails of sincerity, this man has inspired a great many people in his own way of life. As long as you remember him in your heart or deep within your soul, his legacy shall always live on. May God Bless you Dr. Fenster. Rest in peace and see your legacy live on always for those you have touched so very dear to you.

Jean Henry

March 1, 2011

I was shocked when I learned that Fritz had died as he said a year or so ago that he was playing lots of tennis. He was a fine human being, the best, and I will always remember him and his family. I loved them.

I knew Fritz in San Francisco and Boston: They lived next door to us on Union Street until Fritz's father, a San Francisco Symphony Concertmaster, died and they moved away. We reconnected later when I was 19 and he was at Harvard Medical School, and continued our friendship in Boston and Oxford until he went to New Haven for his internship and residency and I got married. He introduced me to classical music. How many people can whistle parts of concertos?

I knew he was an accomplished doctor, a hepatic specialist, and interested in health care quality and cost-effectiveness, but not the degree of his involvement until I read his obituary.

Fritz, we will miss you. Love, Jeanie Doollittle Henry

February 28, 2011

I was shocked when I learned that Fritz had died as he said a year or so ago that he was playing lots of tennis.

I knew Fritz in San Francisco and Boston

Roger Oakes

February 27, 2011

Dr. Fenster was perhaps the most influential mentor I had in training. He was my preceptor during my medical school years at Harborview. Everyone who knew him admired his dedication to medicine, his patients, quality improvement, and his students. He is an unforgetable figure for many of us who trained under him.

Pamela Katims Steele

February 8, 2011

I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Fritz's passing. How my family loved and appreciated him. The great political debater who was always infuriated by my mother's politics. The always willing ping pong and tennis partner for my dad; a great appreciator of classical music; the man on whom my dad relied for anything medical; and the man who stood by my side through my mother's last two years. What a special friend who made his mark in each of our hearts. I shall miss him.

Brendan Kelly

February 8, 2011

One can tell much about a person by his actions and by his speech, and with Fritz both were at all times imbued with the deep humanity of this man, a humanity which caused him, right to the last, to act most graciously towards other human beings. He was a true and special friend to my friend, and for this I thank him.

Tammy Jones

February 8, 2011

Fritz was a beautiful person, an amazing man. He lived his life doing for others, helping people any way possible. I love him like I will never love another. He gave and gave with his big heart every single day. He will remain in my thoughts as a very powerful and positive force for as long as I live.

Hugh Straley

February 2, 2011

I had the privilege of knowing Fritz as a student, resident, clinician colleague, quality improvement colleague, and as friend and associate in our common commitment to YouthCare providing support for homeless kids. He touched hundreds, if not thousands of lives in his career. Those of us lucky to know him put him as one of the most influential and thoughtful mentor and friend that we have ever had, a physician's physician, a superb teacher, and compassionate friend.
Hugh Straley

January 31, 2011

Not infrequently Dr Fenster would interrupt his morning rounds to feed a hospital patient.... cut the meat, butter the bread, bring the fork to the mouth. Truly my 'hero' over three years at Virginia Mason. f a griesman MD

Lynn Regudon

January 31, 2011

One of my favorite doctors in the years I worked at Virginia Mason. Quiet, almost shy in those years, but with a good sense of humor. He took a lot of ribbing in the residents' annual "roasts" with good grace. He rotated through a couple of committees on which I served as medical record representative. He has been missed, I'm sure, since his retirement.

January 30, 2011

Dr. Fenster was the best physician to care for his patients. He was there for them always day and night. They were lucky to have him. He was also respectful of the nurses who cared for his patients. I was lucky to be one of them. I am saddened by his death. He will always be a part of my memory of physicians that are important. He is very special. Judy Wing, R.N.

Martha (Gold) Carr

January 30, 2011

I am so sorry to hear about Fritz passing. He was my "step-dad" at a distance for several years, having been married to my mom, Marni Nixon in Seattle in the early 70's. My sister, Melani lived with them on Mercer Island while I was in college. A dedicated doctor and sweet person. Lisa - our condolences. Please contact:

January 30, 2011

Dr. Fenster was among the teachers-clinicians-mentors most respected by fellow internal medicine residents and by me at Virginia Mason, in the mid-1970s. Cordial, professionally focused, intently modest and a highly effective physician, he gave much to patients, colleagues and trainees who were accorded kind consideration. We are better for having known him. - Royce Morrison MD

Marlene Knapp

January 30, 2011

Dr. Fenster sheparded me through a terrible liver disease from 1975 to 1993. He arragned for a succerssful liver transplant in l981 and I'm still here 22 years later. I owe my life to him and will be grateful for as long as I live. This passage from "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese seems appropriate in remembrance of this dedicated and fine physician: "Medicence is a demanding mistress; yet she is faithful, generous and true. She gives me the privilege of seeing patients and of teaching students at their bedside; and thereby she gives meaning to everything I do.

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