Mike Rankin

I just want to add another praise for this wonderful man. He was so generous and thoughtful. He'd bring his staff at the VA tiramisu all the time! He'd go that extra mile for his patients making certain they were well tended in every aspect. He invited one of my friends who was not a veteran to join a retreat. When I brought my little rescue dog Coney to the clinic Mike immediately held him as Coney melted into his arms. Mike was lovely.

I worked with Dr. Rankin in Oakland at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. He talked of going out to sea many times during his Naval service. He did a tour on a submarine as well. While in the Navy he happened to be stationed in Chicago 1968. He patched up the demonstrators who were beaten by the police outside the Democratic Convention. He was a good guy all the way around. Viet Nam Veteran. Loved by many. Excellent writer. 49er fan; go Joe Montana!

He was loving, kind, open. He did all he could for Veterans.

He was a good man.

At a time in our lives when public heroes were hard to find, Mike helped me, my husband Michael and so many others see possibilities that others were afraid to try.
Thank G-d for this beautiful gift, Mike Rankin, Z"L.

Rest In Peace my friend. You will always be in our hearts.

Whenever Mike Rankin met a stranger, he left a friend.

Mike Rankin and I became b'nai mitzvah with 14 other adults in February 2011. He was 15 years my senior, but our group of 13 women and three men ranged from our 30s to our 70s. And we made it through, reading Torah from the Birman and leading the congregation in prayer.

Mike offered enlightening analyses of Torah portions, even before he became bar mitzvah.

He and I struggled twice together through a basic course in prayerbook Hebrew. His final illness already was beginning to...