David Plotkin Obituary

Plotkin, David September 9, 1925 - July 11, 2012 Family man and trailblazing medical oncologist, David Plotkin died at his home in Orange County from cancer. He was married to the love of his life, Polly, for over 60 years, until her death August 2010. He is survived by his children Danny (Gretchen), Gary (Helene) and Nancy (Bob) and his beloved grandchildren Abbie and Michelle Plotkin, Natasha and Gabriel Plotkin, Maddy and Jonah Nimoy and their father Adam; his brothers Morrey and Pete. Dave lived for his family, and was never happier than when he was with them be it on the ball field, a restaurant, the dance floor, or in one of the many foreign lands to which he had schlepped his troops. He enjoyed a successful medical private practice for over 50 years, and touched the lives of countless patients and friends. A forward thinker, he was decades ahead of his time in understanding the biology of cancer, especially with regard to advocating less-invasive treatments for women with breast cancer. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor to the charity of your choice preferred. Private services will be held at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary on Sunday, July 15, and a celebration of his life will take place in early August in Orange County.

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Published by Los Angeles Times from Jul. 15 to Jul. 18, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for David Plotkin

15 Entries

Richard Willmann

July 9, 2025

David and Polly had every reason not to be friends with a German. But this friendship opened my eyes in many ways and gave me a new perspective on life and society. I miss the conversations with David. David and Polly will always be in our thoughts.
Richard, Heike, and Aiden. Germany

Joel Bell

February 6, 2024

My sincerest condolences to the entire Plotkin family.
My memory of Dr. Plotkin was that he believed in caring for his patients as friends, not just a file in his office. He was caring and always took the time to explain and listen carefully to both my Mom and Dad.
Thank you for being such a caring and professional friend.

September 17, 2012

Polly was a high school classmate of both my wife. Audrey. and myself and through her we metDavid many years ago -- He was a great doctor and a wonderful friend and we are all richer for having known him -- Judge and Mrs John S. McInerny

Steve Vasilev MD

August 4, 2012

When "Doc" took me under his wing in 1977 I became one of his fledgling pre-meds, and the rest is history as they say. He changed my life and I still practice oncology using some of his philosophies that are deeply etched in my heart, mind and soul. He leaves a legacy in so many ways and I shall forever be grateful for his guidance and the time I spent under his tutelage.

Stella Lustgarten

July 24, 2012

I was Dr Plotkin's office manager in Culver City for several years. He took care of me and my children when they were sick and made sure I was well compensated and always had excellent health insurance for me and my children. He was a force for good and cared deeply about his family, his patents, and his employees. We, his employees, felt like family and knew he regarded us the same way. I will miss him and feel like the world is now smaller with him gone.

John Sganga

July 18, 2012

I played tennis with Dave for the past few years and in fact was his regular partner until he stopped playing. As Norm Rubinfeld indicated we rested between games and shared jokes and engaged in interesting intellectual conversations that Dave initiated. Besides his incredible medical knowledge, Dave could speak with authority on many other subjects. He will be missed ! We hereby extend our sympathies and prayers to his family.

July 17, 2012

My sincerest sympathies to the Plotkin family for their loss. David was not only an outstanding physician, but a renaissance man with a multitude of interests. I shall greatly miss my friend and the conversations we had on virtually every imaginable subject.

Peter Zarocostas

Claudia Lee

July 17, 2012

When David Plotkin recruited me from Roswell Park in 1978 to be the administrator of his Foundation, I entered a world of creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment - and science. His innovative belief in the role that private practice physicians could contribute to meaningful research was core to his being. Dr. Plotkin's leadership was extraordinary. He single handedly recruited 32 medical oncologists, from San Diego to Santa Barbara, developing the Oncology Network of Southern California. In 1980, the ONSC was the largest contributor to NSABP. This success ultimately led Vince DeVita to support the first COP funded by NCI. The rest is history. And, Dr. Plotkin was the visionary that created the mechanism for 32 select medical oncologists to make history in the United States.

His belief in the youth was exemplified by his Memorial Cancer Research Foundation of Southern California which was staffed in part by high school students who wanted to become physicians. The Foundation had numerous community-based programs and research projects from which the students learned valuable lessons. Every one of the students ultimately went to medical school.

It is with deep sadness that I leaned of Dr. Plotkin's passing on July 11th. I learned a great deal from him and will be forever grateful to be a small and temporary part of his worthy mission. My thoughts and prayers go to his family, friends, and colleagues. Claudia Z. Lee

Norman Rubinfeld

July 17, 2012

I only had the pleasure of knowing Dave during the last five years of his life.I met Dr. Dave on the Palmia tennis courts. We would play two games, and then we would sit and shmooz for 5 or 10 minutes. Dave and I became good friends because I was one of the few people who could understand a little Yiddish --- and Dave loved to tell stories and jokes in Yiddish. He was the only Jew I ever knew who spoke Yiddish with a Texas drawl. Shortly after Polly died, Dave and I were sitting in his house discussing religion and whether there was an after life. My thought was we live on in the fond memories of the friends and family who knew us. Dave will truly live on because of the fond memories we have of him lecturing us on the tennis court and at the swimming pool. Sandy and I will miss you. Rest in peace.

July 17, 2012

My sympathies go out to the Plotkin family during this time of sorrow. It brings a source of comfort to know that God is near to those broken at heart and those crushed in spirit he saves.

Lauren Meyer

July 16, 2012

He and Polly were good friends of my parents for many years and he and my father spent many mornings on the tennis court.

July 16, 2012

Nancy,

I know your heart is heavy right now, but the love you shared with your dad will see you through these tough times. I love you and even though I never met your dad, through yours and my numerous conversations, I think I got the picture.

He was a great man and you were a great daughter to him.

Gary Grossman

July 16, 2012

Danny,Gary and Nancy
Gail's and my thoughts are with you and your families Let us know about the early August event
Perry and gail

LYND BECKER

July 15, 2012

Because of Dr. Plotkin, my husband is alive today. What a wonderful man. . .and not just because of that. So extremely intelligent and inquisitive, gentle and kind. We'll never forget him.

George Wilson

July 15, 2012

You always had a story to tell. Will miss not seeing you at the Palmia pool.
Enjoyed being your guest at the family Art Exhibt.

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