Dr. Sam Schatten

News Obituary Article

SANDY SPRINGS: Dr. Sam Schatten, 54, knew how to find 'spark of Judaism'

By KIRSTEN TAGAMI

Dr. Sam Schatten of Sandy Springs was known to spend as much as an hour with patients, making sure all their questions were answered and sometimes even engaging in a lively political debate.

Dr. Schatten was a rheumatologist, someone who treats arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones, and he drew patients from around the Southeast.

But as much as he loved dealing with patients, he felt even more strongly about his Jewish faith. He was a leader in Atlanta's Jewish community who worked at "finding the spark of Judaism in others," and encouraged others to observe traditional rituals such as daily prayer, said his longtime friend, Dr. Alan Fixelle of Atlanta.

For him, the old rituals were not archaic but "a way to find holiness in the mundane," said Dr. Fixelle.

Dr. Schatten, 54, died of heart failure Saturday at Piedmont Hospital. He had been battling pulmonary artery sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The funeral is 3 p.m. today at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Schatten reduced his medical practice to part-time in order to serve as president of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, a volunteer position, from 2000-02. The "AA Synagogue" is the largest conservative synagogue in Atlanta.

He was concerned that the conservative movement was losing active, observant Jews. Dr. Schatten led study of the Torah, the Jewish holy book, and created the Atlanta Jewish Male Choir to bring more music to the worship services, said his son, Jeff Schatten of Sandy Springs.

Dr. Schatten also was a master fund-raiser for causes he cared about, such as his synagogue and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

"He was known for being able to get someone who has $1 to give $2. I think it was because he was so genuine in his passion for his community and for making a difference," said his son.

"It was very expensive being one of Sam's friends," said Dr. Fixelle. "You couldn't say no to the guy."

Jeff Schatten described his dad as an "intense, enthusiastic guy with a lot of extreme qualities. He was outgoing and in-your-face and also humble. He was a very religious man who also loved dirty jokes."

He also had a reputation as a whirling Dervish who danced nonstop at parties. It was at a bar mitzvah in late 2005 that Dr. Schatten collapsed while dancing and had to be revived by other physicians in attendance. Doctors initially thought he had a blood clot, but it turned out to be cancer that was blocking his pulmonary artery.

That crisis led him to found the CLEAR Coalition (cardiac life extension and rescue), a nonprofit dedicated to educating people about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and placing portable, easy-to-use defibrillators in schools, businesses and public places.

Other survivors are his wife, Janet Schatten of Sandy Springs; sons Alan, Todd and Michael Schatten, all of Sandy Springs; mother Barbara Schatten of Atlanta; brothers Kenneth Schatten of Atlanta and Gregory Schatten of New York; sisters Karen Shmerling of Atlanta and Rona Nelson of New York.

© 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution