Leon Starkman

Leon Starkman, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away surrounded by love on February 12, 2026 at 8:40 a.m. in San Francisco, California, at the age of 95.

Leon’s commitment to serving others shaped his world. Everyone who knew him came away inspired to do good, share kindness, and take action, as he always did, even when a situation seemed impossible.

The son of immigrants Joseph and Blanche (Milstein) Starkman, Leon was born on April 5, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois.

He attended the University of Illinois, where he earned his medical degree and became a general surgeon. During the Korean War, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in a MASH unit, caring for wounded soldiers and civilians with equal dedication and compassion.

Sixty-four years ago, Leon married Elaine (Marcus), the love of his life. In the 1960s, Leon and Elaine lived in Israel. Together, they raised four children: Joel Starkman, Ruth Starkman, Judy Starkman, and Naomi Starkman.

Leon delighted in his role as grandfather to four grandchildren: Andrew Starkman, David Starkman, Isaac Cohen, and Eli Cohen. When his grandchildren were born, he became an endless source of wisdom and entertainment, organizing expeditions to museums and nature, and playing countless games of chess and checkers.

Leon’s devotion to healing extended far beyond his formal career. Throughout his life in the Bay Area, he volunteered in hospitals, offering patients comfort, conversation, and prayer when welcomed.

He practiced medicine as a calling to serve others in spirit as well as body. A deeply religious Jew, Leon did not measure faith by strictness or display. He was a member of B'nai Shalom in Walnut Creek, and lived fully in the spirit of Torah, humility, compassion, and mitzvot.

Leon found joy in simple, attentive rituals: tending his beloved cactus garden, noticing the delicate beauty of plants, and speaking with genuine affection about animals, whose intelligence and spirit he deeply respected. He met his children’s mischief with a quiet smile, proudly recognizing it as his own.

Leon’s presence was steady and unmistakable. He was warmly himself, independent in spirit, uninterested in pretense, guided by an inner compass rather than convention. His quick smile and soft humor made people feel at home; to know Leon was to feel welcomed, seen, and loved.

Even at the end of his life, Leon maintained what always guided him: gratitude and love, softly offering “thank you” and “wonderful” as his family cared for him, and often texting a single word: “blessings.”

Leon is survived by his beloved wife, Elaine; his children; his grandchildren; and his extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Irving Starkman; and his sister, Adeline (Starkman) Ordman.

Zichrono Livracha.