Jack M. Matloff

March 13, 1933 - August 20, 2015 Dr. Jack Morton Matloff, 82, of Los Angeles passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 20, 2015. Dr. Matloff was born on March 13, 1933 in New Haven, Connecticut to Ruth and Hyman Matloff. He was the eldest of three sons. He is survived by his wife Martha of 48 years, his children Lori and Stephen, six grandchildren and his brothers David and Kenneth Matloff. Dr. Matloff was a world-renowned surgeon, a pioneer in medicine and a highly respected humanitarian and philanthropist. Coming from humble beginnings as the son of a milkman, he graduated from Yale University in 1954, summa cum laude, and Tufts Medical School in 1958. Dr. Matloff was recruited to Los Angeles in 1969 to start and lead a new department of cardiothoracic surgery at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital and later the merged Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. During his almost 30 years at Cedars, Dr. Matloff and the world-class team he built grew the department into one of the most highly respected centers for cardiothoracic surgery in the world. Dr. Matloff also shared responsibility for starting Cedars' heart and lung transplant programs. For his contributions to Cedars, Dr. Matloff was named Alumnus of the Year by the Cedars-Sinai Staff in 2002 and awarded the Pioneer in Medicine Award in 2008 for being "a master physician, teacher, author, and philanthropist whose worldwide efforts and scientific contributions set the highest standards for cardiac surgery." Dr. Matloff was an influential figure in cardiothoracic surgery and health policy beyond Los Angeles. He held a faculty appointment at Harvard, having spent a mid-career sabbatical earning a Masters in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government. He later co-founded and managed a successful series of healthcare executive courses at the Kennedy School that educated influential members of the healthcare industry on policy-related topics pertinent to "the new world of healthcare." He also served as President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). For his contributions to cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Matloff received the Distinguished Service Medal of the STS and the David J. Dugan Distinguished Service Award of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association. Dr. Matloff advised state and foreign governments on the future of healthcare and the implementation of population-based healthcare programs. For his role in the creation of the Jesselson Comprehensive Heart Center at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, Dr. Matloff received the Jerusalem Medal, the highest honor accorded foreign nationals who have worked on behalf of Israel. Most importantly, Dr. Matloff was beloved for his deep warmth and intense caring about others. Despite his tremendous professional contributions, his family felt his world revolved around them. Contributions to honor Dr. Matloff's life can be made to: The Dr. Jack Matloff Family Emergency & Disaster Response Center American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem 8671 Wilshire Blvd #712 Beverly Hills, CA 90211