SAMUEL PETER GOTOFF

1933 - 2022

BORN

1933

DIED

2022

About

Amherst College

SAMUEL GOTOFF Obituary

GOTOFF, Samuel Peter Researcher and Clinician With loving remembrance, we announce the passing of Dr. Samuel Peter Gotoff on April 24, 2022. Born March 22, 1933 to Arnold and Ruth Gotoff, Sam grew up in the Bronx and attended Amherst College, where he made lifelong friends and met his future wife, Myra Lowenthal. Sam completed his medical training at the University of Rochester Medical School and Yale, and pursued a fellowship in Allergy/Immunology at Boston Children's Hospital. He later served as Chairman of Pediatrics at Michael Reese Hospital and Rush Medical Center in Chicago, where he established Rush Children's Hospital. Dr. Gotoff achieved the rare triad of academic, clinician, and educator. He authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including a seminal paper that transformed the identification and prevention of Group-B Strep in newborns. He was a mentor to scores of students and residents, who remember him for his depth of knowledge, and dedication to excellence in patient care. Myra and Sam married in 1956, and raised three children, Elizabeth, Robert and David. They lived in Chicago and spent summers in Truro, where they built close friendships spanning generations. After Myra's death in 2008, Sam continued to travel, support the arts, volunteer for the Democratic party, and tutor at a local primary school. His later years were enriched by his dear friend Judith Ratzan. Sam was deeply invested in the education and well-being of his family. He will be greatly missed by his children, Elizabeth Chadis, Robert (Jill), and David (Sallie); and his seven grandchildren, Molly (David Micley), Joseph, James, Samuel, Hannah, Sarah, and Benjamin—and two great-granddaughters, Lily and Zoe. In addition to his beloved wife Myra, Sam was predeceased by his brother Harold. Sam's wit, wisdom and integrity were admired by all who knew him; and despite knowing more than just about anyone about the state of world affairs, he remained an optimist to the end. A Memorial Service will take place in the summer of 2022 in Truro, MA.

View the online memorial for Samuel Peter GOTOFF

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Apr. 29 to May 1, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for SAMUEL GOTOFF

8 Entries

Loretta Steinberg Blauner

January 9, 2025

Sallie - I remembering you contacting me a few years ago with questions about the family. Today I thought about Pete and realized that there is no one left of our generation. Condolences to the Gotoff family. Loretta Steinberg Blauner 01/09/25

Regina Okhuysen-Cawley MD, FCCM

March 28, 2023

Dr. Gotoff made significant contributions to Pediatric Infectious Diseases, which have had a global impact. After being his trainee, I make every effort to treat my own young mentees with kindness. May he Rest In Peace.

Kathy Haney

June 17, 2022

Dr. Gotoff or Dr. G, as I would often called him, was the mainstay of the RUSH Dept. of Pediatrics. Having served as the Academic Coord. of the dept. for 10 yrs., I witnessed first hand his commitment to the well being of children, the little pts he saw one morning a week in spite of his administrative responsibilities, his medical residents and fellows, and the medical students under his purview. He was the consummate teacher, determined to provide the best education with supportive facts to the attention of his faculty, residents and all RUSH medical students who experienced a mandatory clinical rotation through Peds. Underneath his stern exterior was a man who cared deeply about his patients, medical staff, residents/fellows and medical students. Yes, he was determined to conduct valuable research, publish, and educate but it was the health and well-being of all people, big and little, that mattered most in his professional life. He had a deep commitment of love for life specifically for Myra, his three children and his grandchildren; his belief and pride in their abilities and achievements were remarkable. Dr. G. your memory lives on; your teaching is embedded forever, and your love for what really mattered is an example for all of us.

STEVEN SHECHTMAN

May 10, 2022

Dear family of Sam Gotoff
It is with great sadness that I heard the news of Sam's passing. I was a resident of his from 1975-1978 at Michael Reese Hospital and will forever be grateful to Sam for his mentoring and guidance. Because of his training, I have no doubt, I was able to make a difference in the lives of so many of my young patients. He will always remain in my memory.

Sincerely, Linda Zuffa

Planted Trees

Roland & Steffi Kallen

May 2, 2022

Farewell old friend. Your vast knowledge base and welcome concern and camaraderie will be sorely missed by the Cape Cod and Amhert crowd.

Les Trubow

May 1, 2022

Condolences to all of Sam's family. Sam was Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Michael Reese Hospital where I did my residency in Pediatrics from 1978 to 1981. Sam was a great mentor, roll model and teacher. I considered him a friend. He will be missed.

Zarena Ali

May 1, 2022

My sincere and Heartfelt sympathies to Dr. Samuel Gotoff. We acknowledge his contribution to society and to his family.

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results