Howard Sturtz M.D.

1935 - 2022

Howard Sturtz, M.D.
June 12, 1935 - July 31, 2022
Resident of Walnut Creek
The family of Howard Sturtz, M.D. is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our wonderful father, loving husband, adoring grandfather, gifted doctor, and friend to many in our community. Howard lived a long, full life that tragically ended at Sutter Delta Medical Center from COVID-19 complications, following a one year battle with esophageal cancer. He was 87 years old.
Howard was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, with his older sister, the late Beatrice Wooster. He often reminisced about his summers as a teenage lifeguard at Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY and continued to enjoy the beach and water activities the rest of his life. In 1956 he graduated from Columbia University, and then attended SUNY Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, where he received his Doctor of Medicine in 1960. He completed a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Jewish Hospital in New York, with a summer internship on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma in 1965. That same year, he moved to Berkeley, CA with his late first wife, Dr. Joyce Welsher, where he practiced for one year. He then relocated to Walnut Creek in 1966, where he joined the staff of John Muir Medical Center and established his own practice directly across from the hospital at 1479 La Casa Via. He established a second practice in Antioch, interestingly at Delta Memorial Hospital where he ultimately passed away.
Howard enjoyed a robust 62 year career as an orthopedic surgeon, assisting well into his late 70's. For years he was a regular in the emergency room and enjoyed being a part of the John Muir Trauma Team and Utilization Review Committee. He was an early advocate for many new orthopedic and surgical technologies, including purchasing one of the first arthroscopic tools for John Muir. He loved sharing his passion for patient care and the "art of fixing bones' with his children. He would regularly bring home x-rays to share bones he put back together with screws and rods, demonstrated how to put on a cast during classroom sharing, he casted the legs of one of the family cats, had his children tag along during hospital rounds, had many family dinners at the hospital cafeteria, and loved having his kids scrub into surgery! Later in his career, Howard enjoyed assisting cases at Merrithew Memorial Hospital (now Contra Costa Regional) in Martinez and consulting with Bay Area orthopedic practices providing exams for the Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, and Expert Review for the State Medical Board. He was the President of the Contra Costa Chapter of American Friends of Magen David Adom, supporting the people and State of Israel with a gift of an ambulance. He always had multiple professional irons in the fire and truly enjoyed caring for his community in any way he could.
On October 21, 1976 Howard was introduced by a mutual friend to Leslie Stadt and he proposed two weeks later! They married in 1977 at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette and enjoyed 45 years of marriage, traveling as a couple to Israel, Europe, white water rafting and camping, and many romantic dates. Howard and Leslie had two sons together, bringing their combined brood to six children (five boys and one girl). Family was Howard's top priority. He was generous with all of his children, supporting each as they pursued every sport and activity imaginable, and continued to support them all into college and graduate schools. He delighted in having the entire family over for Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and birthdays, all of which became larger as his family expanded.
Howard had many interests and hobbies in his busy life and was a naturally curious and creative person. He originally moved to California to cultivate his love of exploring its varied landscapes, and his practice enabled him to take extended trips in the summers. He took his two oldest sons, and later the whole family, on camping trips up and down the California coast, visiting state and national parks, ghost towns, deserts, beaches and mountains. Other adventures included driving across the country and back, stopping at almost every national park on the route. During his life he visited almost every state. He loved all things beach and water, and was an avid sailor, acquiring an assortment of boats over the years, including a Lido, Hobie Cat and eventually a Pearson 303, which he loved to sail on the Bay with his sons. Later in life he would take his El Toro sailboat around Lake Lakewood, near the family home in Walnut Creek. Howard loved bird watching long before it became known as birding, and he set up an array of feeders on his deck and marveled at the assortment of species that visited. Howard also loved to surf and ski with his family and did so well into his 70s. He assisted the medical team at Bear Valley Ski Resort as the on-call "Ski Doctor" orthopedic surgeon while his family was on the slopes. Howard loved food and particularly enjoyed the flavors of Asian cuisine, frequenting restaurants so often he came to be known as "Doctor Howard". He regularly worked out with a trainer and astounded everyone at his 75th birthday by doing 75 pushups in front of his cheering family. He loved comics, especially those in The New Yorker. He loved building model sailboats and planes. He loved Warriors games. He was a gardener and literally grew a national forest of citrus trees in his side yard. He enjoyed tending to the pond that he built from scratch and kept it regularly stocked with fish. He loved animals of all kinds, especially dogs and cats. He loved cars, especially Mercedes-Benz, as he was impressed with their safety features. For years he owned a 1927 Chevrolet Coupe equipped with an "ahooga horn" and rumble seat, which won its class in the 1979 Concours d'Elegance car show at Heather Farms. He would drive his kids around the neighborhood in that old-fashioned car honking the horn with great pride.
Howard is lovingly remembered by his wife, Leslie Sturtz, and children: David Sturtz and wife Pamela Strazdas of Moraga, Michael Sturtz of Alameda, Tara Stern and husband David Stern of Walnut Creek, Chris Matthews of Los Angeles, Jordan Sturtz and wife Natalya Sturtz of Walnut Creek, and Rob Sturtz and wife Eileen Ortiga of Lafayette, and 13 dear grandchildren: Madeline, Milana, Remy, Charlotte, Nathan, Skylar, Nicolette, Vivian, Hunter, Zachary, Sophia, Margaret, and Eli.
Howard will be greatly missed, and it will take a lifetime to fill the void that his passing has created. His family held a private burial on Monday, August 8, 2022 at The Garden of Tranquility, Oakmont Memorial Park. Those wishing may send memorial contributions in his name to the Sierra Club Foundation, 2101 Webster St., Suite 1250, Oakland, CA 94612
Sinai Memorial Chapel
925-962-3636


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