Dr. Lee Ehrlich

Ehrlich, Dr. Lee
Sir Thomas More, in the play, 'Man for all Seasons', advises an ambitious young man, "Be a teacher": Disappointed, the youth says: "If I were to be a teacher, who would know?" More replies: "You. Your students. Your friends. Your colleagues. God. Not a bad public, that." Add, "your patients' and 'your family'. One hell of a public. Dad was an exceptional physician, and teacher, as those people realize. He embodied integrity, modesty, brilliance, hard work, humanism. He was profoundly devoted to his work, kind, gentle and brilliant with his patients, believing in their dignity, and the right to the best care he could give. He always gave it, with a devotion and a compassion rare in any field. His standards were high. He was also one hell of an adoring husband, father and grandfather. His standards-- generosity, integrity, sense of decency, intellectual curiosity, unsurpassed, live on in the memories of those whose lives were touched by his. A young man he took into his practice, who later developed a successful one of his own, remembered, 'The first thing your father told me was, 'Remember, if a patient can't pay, take care of him! Money isn't important!' It never was. For Dad, there was no room for arrogance, greed or ego in what he considered the practice of medicine to be: an art --not just a science. Ehrlich was quietly fulfilled by his faith, and generous in his support to Jewish causes. He was a true liberal, who acted as he felt, with sensitivity and understanding. People who knew him know all this and... more. He was one of those precious few people who make the very best of their lives, the very best of a life a human can make, who improve the lives of the people around him--and he started with so little. Ehrlich was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1920, from parents who had earlier fled from the misery in Galicia. From washing milk bottles for his father's one-man dairy, to pumping gas for his father's one-man station, he won a scholarship to the U. of Illinois, Cook County, where he met his soon-to-be adored wife, Mildred. After receiving a Bachelor's of Medicine--a degree created especially for him, he took his internship at the University's famous Cook County Medical School, his residency at Harvard. Mom and Dad moved to Phoenix in 1949. They had an unusually loving, strong marriage until Mildred's passing in 2005. In addition to having a successful practice, Ehrlich truly created the Cardiology Department at Good Samaritan Hospital, and was Chief of Cardiology there for over 25 years, and voted "Most Popular Teacher' so often, the plaque remained a permanent fixture. There were also many awards--none of which Dad took seriously; he was an incredibly modest man, although his reputation was stunning. Among his very many accomplishments, Ehrlich was the first to introduce the portable pacemaker into the US. He became probably the most renowned cardiologist in Arizona, retiring in 1985. Dad died on January 6; it was his wish that there be no fuss; this obit has been published after a very simple, small private funeral. Contributions may be made to a favorite charity. He is survived by his loving and loved daughter Jane, and by daughter Susan (Jim), grandchildren Lee Michael Hair and Caitlin Hair.