Robert Sanford "Bud" Ozeran

1931 - 2016

January 31, 1931 - June 2, 2016 Robert "Bud" Ozeran, born January 31, 1931 passed away June 2, 2016. Bud was born in Chicago, IL, of hard-working immigrant parents from Russia who settled in Chicago after escaping the Bolshevik revolution. Bud's father, Sol, owned several fish markets in the South Side area of Chicago and the family of Sol, Naomi, and Bud's older brother Mort, lived above one of the stores. Perhaps that's one reason Bud never really cared for fish! He attended South Shore High School in a largely segregated neighborhood and subsequently matriculated into the prestigious University of Chicago where he attended College and then Medical School. After completing Medical School in 1955, he landed a coveted surgery internship with one of his mentors at Wadsworth VA Hospital in Los Angeles. For the first year, he hated L.A., but the weather and lifestyle grew on him and he decided to stay. In 1958 he met the love of his life-Sue-while at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. She was a nurse in the operating room. Bud was taking photos in the operating room and asked Sue to get him a stool. She told him to get one himself and to make sure he put it back. He called her a not-so-nice name under his breath and a few months later asked her on a date. Guess she made an impression on him! They fell in love and were married in 1959 on All Hallows Eve. During their 46 year marriage they traveled the world, raised four children, acted together and worked together. Their marriage lasted until Sue's untimely death in 2005. Bud worked at the VA as a vascular surgeon and subsequently UCLA until 1971, after which he entered private practice. While at UCLA, Bud became one of the pioneers of dialysis access surgery at one of only three centers in the U.S. He developed and perfected fistulas and shunts that improved the quality of life for many patients with renal failure before and after the advent of kidney transplantation. He was considered a leader in the field of dialysis access surgery and published many articles and book chapters on the subject. He also served as a captain in the Army in the early 1960s. Even in private practice he continued to teach and lecture at UCLA and the VA. Throughout his clinical career he educated and mentored many surgeons. He held leadership positions at California hospitals in Gardena, Redondo Beach, and Torrance. He was actively involved in several medical societies, including the Pacific Coast Surgical Association and Southern California Vascular Surgical Society. Bud's greatest hobby was shopping. One of his favorite pastimes was clipping out coupons from the paper and seeing what discount he could get when shopping. The nurses at the hospitals would give him their newspapers and he spent hours before going to bed clipping and organizing coupons. Once, Bud came home from a department store and told us he had purchased 33 ties. Why? Because they were on sale. And they make good gifts. When Bud was convinced that his children had left the nest, one of his children's bedrooms was converted to a storage room for his purchased items until they could be shared with others. The room was lovingly called the 'O-mart'. Like Sue, Bud turned to acting and singing later in his career. Show tunes were his favorites, but his singing career culminated when he landed a part as a supernumerary with the Los Angeles Opera in its production of Pagliacci. Bud and Sue explored the world. They didn't just visit places, they experienced them. They went on wine tasting tours in France and Italy before they became vogue. With Bud's disarming demeanor, outgoing personality, and generosity, he made lasting friendships with people all over the world. Bud would often strike up a conversation with a stranger and next thing you know, they were having dinner together. They made lifelong friends around the world, including in Hong Kong, Australia, England, Belgium, France, and Italy. Bud was kind and generous to a fault. He supported numerous charitable causes. He loved to entertain and was an outstanding chef. He had a knack for pairing wine and food. He even made his own wine. He was active in the American Institute of Wine and Food and Les Amis D'Escoffier Society of Los Angeles. He was an outstanding surgeon, loving father, and loyal friend. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sol and Naomi, his wife, Sue, and his brother, Mort. He is survived by his four children, Larry, Steven, Danny, and Victoria, their spouses and his grandchildren. Celebrations of his life will be held in July in Lewiston, ID and Los Angeles, CA. Words of remembrance may be shared at: http://www.ozeran.org