Arthur "Art" Mendelow

1934 - 2018

Arthur "Art" Mendelow of Greenville, South Carolina went home to God on April 6, 2018 at the age of 83 years old.
An interesting man, rich in experiences, knowledge, and insight, Arthur was born to Jesse and Aaron Mendelow on November 24, 1934 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Arthur was a loving and protective older brother to Pam Behr, Gillian Wolf, and Clive Mendelow, sharing his love of learning, reading, literature, and history with them and everyone who had the pleasure of his company throughout his life. He was also a kind and devoted husband to Sandra Baron. He blessed her with marriage on July 5, 1959 and courageously, they embarked on life's journey together. In 1976, Arthur and Sandy bravely moved their young family across the ocean from South Africa to the United States.
He graduated from the University of Witwatersrand, followed by general surgical, orthopedic, and neurosurgical training in South Africa. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and practiced in Johannesburg in general and children's orthopedics. He cared for so many, living his life in service to his patients, his family and his community.
Through his loving examples, the belief that "to whom much is given, much is expected" was ingrained in the minds of his three sons, David, Michael, and Richard, his daughter, Keryth, his daughters-in-law, Greer, Dolores, and Jennifer, his son-in-law, Adam, and his eight treasured grandchildren. With twinkling eyes and a mischievous grin, he showed them that there is nothing in this world that cannot be made more joyous with kindness and humor.
A patriotic immigrant, Arthur went on to share his skill, knowledge, and sense of commitment by first practicing and teaching orthopedic and spine surgery at the University of Florida and then in private practice in Houston, Texas. As a physician, he was characterized by exceptional professionalism, excellence, humor and that twinkling smile which immediately put people at ease. To his family, his patients, his coworkers, his students and everyone he met, he was generous of spirit, generous with his time, and abundantly giving of kindness and love.
In their retirement, Arthur and Sandra came to be known as Art and Sam as they toured the U.S. in their RV, ultimately settling in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Art had an amazing capacity for learning. He could accurately recite an extensive selection of classic poetry. Even in the earliest years of his career, he had hobbies in electronics, making his own high fidelity amplifiers and other sound system components, woodworking, wood turning, building his own computers, reading in relativity and astronomy, cooking, etc. He was able to further indulge these interests in his retirement.
In his final years, Art lived in Greenville, SC where his complex medical issues required specialized care. This was provided with love and devotion by numerous local specialists, physicians, nurses and staff of Greenville Health System, but especially by the caring and dedicated staff of the Palmettos Assisted Living Community. In the end, Arthur was loved as he had loved and served as he had served – with devotion, humor, and tenderness.
Arthur will be agonizingly missed – preserved in his youth by the indelible memories of his brother and sisters; guarded in the loving memories of his wife; and held closely in the hearts of his children and grandchildren. He was a gentleman, friendly, and with an intelligent and endearing sense of humor. He took the high road in all he did. He will live on in the innumerable individuals whose lives he touched with his fundamental goodness, his smile, his jokes, his poems, and his songs.
Condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown