Gerald Joseph Glantz

1934 - 2023

October 4, 1934 - January 31, 2023 Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Joseph Glantz (88), of Encino, California, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2023, surrounded by his children. There will be an intimate funeral at Mt. Sinai in Simi Valley on Sunday, February 5th, at 12:30pm. The family will also hold a larger Celebration of Life in the coming weeks.

Jerry Glantz was born on October 4, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the firstborn son of David and Esther Glantz, and is survived by one brother whom he cherished, Howard Glantz. Jerry was a talented, hard-working and athletic boy from the start, studying and playing high school football. As a teenager, Jerry wondered whether he would become a Rabbi or a doctor. He chose to go to Medical School at the University of Chicago, and upon graduation, moved west, settling in Los Angeles.

Jerry loved his 5 children (in birth order) Rosalyn Glantz, Ed Glantz, Lori Glantz Stutsman, Ron Glantz, and Jim Glantz, and also their spouses, Helen Hirsch, Mike Stutsman and April Glantz. He loved his 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren Kasey, Austen, Dusty, Rikki, Taylor, Nick, Hunter, Chad, Brandy, Jake, Aidan, Avery, and Luca. In addition, he adopted the Goldman family as his own, and considered Steve, Ginger and sons, Brady and Jack, as his own. An abundance of friends surrounded him his whole life, too many to mention, but his special love later in life was Sheila Boston, a true friend, very special to him and our family.

To say Jerry led a full life is an understatement. Jerry spent two years serving in the military at the U.S. base in Karlsruhe, Germany. After serving his country, he moved to the San Fernando Valley, settling in and making a home in Encino, California. His life was devoted to helping others, and saved thousands of lives as a surgeon. He earned the Chief of Surgery position at Brotman Medical Center in Culver City. Eventually, the hospital renamed a building after him, the Glantz Pavilion, in recognition of all his accomplishments and contributions to the hospital and the medical profession as a whole. Jerry also worked at UCLA's VA Hospital, offering world-class surgical skills and compassionate care to our veterans. He was a Professor of Surgery at UCLA, teaching and mentoring residents to become the next generation of surgeons. When asked, Jerry said that his greatest accomplishment was winning the "Golden Scalpel" nine years in a row, an award voted by the students and given to the professor that made the greatest impact in their lives and careers as surgeons.

Jerry adored world travel, but had a special fondness for Thailand and Israel. He visited Thailand many times and made great friends there. In Israel, he spent months training their surgeons to use the laser knife, a new tool that would revolutionize the surgical field. He spent years traveling the U.S. teaching and mentoring other doctors on its use. Perhaps more importantly, Jerry innovated laparoscopic surgical techniques that now are widely used in organ surgeries, allowing for minimally invasive surgeries and saving countless lives. Jerry was made President of the International Society of Laser Surgeons, and spent years overseas training surgeons in both laser and laparoscopic surgical techniques.

On a lighter note, Jerry loved jazz music, going to the theater, cheering for his UCLA Bruins basketball team, cooking gourmet meals, watching Disney movies (and singing along to the tunes), and swimming in the family pool with his kids and grandkids.

Jerry was serious. He was hysterical. He was dedicated. He was ethical. He was loyal. He was passionate. He was kind. He was generous. He was silly. He was everything we could wish for in a father and a friend.

We love you so much dad, and hope you are making dinner with Nana Lee and singing your favorite songs in heaven. You will be forever missed. Shalom.