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Joel Widelitz Obituary
Joel J. Widelitz, MD, 66, of Seal Beach, California, died on August 8, 2012 of complications following surgery.
Dr. Widelitz was born October 11, 1945 in New York, the only child of Benjamin and Claire Widelitz. He graduated from Brown University and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Joel moved to California in 1976 and entered into private practice as a Pediatrician. He met Judy Murphy at Miller Children's Hospital where she was a nurse and they married in 1984. Throughout their marriage, Joel and Judy focused their professional lives together on the care of children.
In 1979 he and his dear friend and colleague, Robert Kaplan MD, founded their pediatric practice, Kaplan and Widelitz Inc., and he continued to practice in Los Alamitos up to his death. Joel was a gifted pediatrician whose calm and gentle manner soothed the fears of new moms, crying infants and toddlers, fidgety school age kids, and anxious teenagers. He was the primary doctor for thousands of children over the years and many of his current patients are the children of former patients. Dr. Widelitz was on staff at Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach and Los Alamitos Medical Center, he was an Associate Clinical Professor at University of California, Irvine and devoted many years of volunteer service to The Children's Clinic of Greater Long Beach. He was a beloved and respected physician in the community and will be missed by many.
In addition to kids, Joel's other passion was golf, which he played at every opportunity as a member of SeaCliff Country Club. Joel was always happy when he was out on the links. He took his golf clubs with him on vacations whenever possible and was excited to play at Pebble Beach and on many of the PGA courses throughout the states.
Above all Joel loved his family: husband to Judy, father to Greg Murphy and his wife, Susanne, and to Jeanne Murphy Plumb and her husband Kevin and grandfather to Nicholas, Christopher, Travis and Maren. His grandchildren were the loves of his life. He is also survived by and will be greatly missed by his sisters-in-law, Jeanne Obert Damask and Lydia Tyler and their families.
A memorial service will be held September 7, at 4:00 in Houssel's Forum at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. For those who wish, contributions can be made in memory of Joel to Miller Children's Hospital/Memorial Medical Center Foundation or The Children's Clinic of Greater Long Beach.
Please sign the guest book at www.presstelegram.com/obituaries..
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Memories and Condolences
for Joel Widelitz
Dan Keller
January 3, 2013
I helped Joel move to Long Beach as a newly minted pediatrician in 1976 by driving a U-Haul truck from Rochester, NY. He was a sweet and caring man then and obviously managed to keep that same wonderful spirit throughout his career. I remember sitting at dinner with him so many years ago when he was first starting out. He got paged, went to a phone (no cell phones in those days) and came back with a smile on his face. He was so glad he could reassure a new mother over something involving her infant, and I could see he was going to be the kind of pediatrician any family would be lucky to have. I'm so sorry for his family, patients, friends, and associates.
Catherine Queen
September 11, 2012
Dr. Widelitz cared for both of my boys & I worked with him at Miller Children's. He was a great doctor & very kind man. He will be missed. My heart goes out to the family.
Luz Madriz
August 30, 2012
Prayers go out to the Widelitz Family. I'm still in shock about his lost. He was my children doctor since birth. He was so charesmatic and loving with my children. We will certainly miss him.
R.I.P Dr.Widelitz
Patricia Naderi
August 28, 2012
Wow, what a shock to have seen this lost in the news paper! I will never forget this Doctor's face, he and Dr. Kaplan were also my one and only son Erik's doctor back in 1980, I met them whne they had just started their practice. I always thought very highly of both doctors and had planned to use them for all my children but I only had one. It has been over 30 years since I last seen either doctor yes, but I have never forgotten either of them.
R. I. P. Sweet Dr. Widelitz, you are going to be greatly missed by all of your current and former patients not to mention your friends and family, til we meet again.
The Naderi family
Carole Adams
August 26, 2012
So saddened to hear of Dr Widelitz's death! Such a great loss to the children he had such a love for! Love & Hugs during this difficult time to Judy & family....
Patricia Boranian
August 25, 2012
Dr Widelitz was a very special person who will be missed by all he touched. He was a gentle, kind soul and took such good care of our two daughters. God Bless your family and loved ones.
Jill Jones
August 23, 2012
Dr. Widelitz and Dr. Kaplan were my childrens doctor. My children are now 33, 30, and 25. Dr. Widelitz was the only dr. that could correctly diagnois my son with kawasaki syndrome. He was so calm and comforting and you knew everything was ok.May he rest in peace.
Janice Allen
August 23, 2012
I will never forget the first day I met Dr. Widelitz. Here was this towering man who looked so important, yet he took the time to see how he could help me. I was new to the Children's Clinic and was looking for a chart which the doctors would need, but I didn't know if I could go in the room where he was with the residents. I soon found out that if I was looking for a chart, I was more than welcome to come in. I haven't seen him since we moved to our new building across the street. His death is a great loss to all of the doctors coming through Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children's Hospitals who end up in Pediatrics. He was a great teacher for the residents and a great friend to those of us who worked with him. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers go out to you and your family.
Christina Scott
August 22, 2012
You will forever be in my heart.
Mark Goodman, MD
August 21, 2012
You will be missed.
Lorrie Simmerman
August 20, 2012
God bless you and keep you in his loving arms.
Mavis Chan
August 20, 2012
Dr. Widelitz had the gift of calm. His smile and gentle voice reassured our kids that while he had to "look at them", things would always be "ok". Our kids have been long-time patients of Dr. Widelitz and Kaplan, and are 16 and 19, respectively. They are well beyond the years where the care of a pediatrician is needed, but we loved him and Dr. Kaplan and how they ran their practice. Our deepest sympathies to the Widelitz family. Dr. Widelitz was a very gifted, special man. We remember his warm smile and wonderful bedside manner!
Kim Carasso
August 20, 2012
To say that Dr. Widelitz was special or that he had a gift are understatements. He was passionate about taking care of little ones and it showed. The last time I saw him, he stopped by to check on my newborn son and me as we were leaving the office -- even though he hadn't treated us that day. He wanted to make sure my son (and me) made it through our first set of shots okay. He knew how to make you instantly at ease. I am sorry that my son won't have this great role model to look up to. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Lynne Street
August 20, 2012
We are saddened to hear of the news of the passing of our Pediatrician Dr. Widelitz. He had a gift to break things down so the children could understand him, trust him and stay engaged while he instructed parents of the follow up to the appointments. What a blessing he was to my two boys. He will be truly missed! Our deepest condolences to his family...we are truly sorry for his loss!
Sincerely,
Lynne, Trevor and Connor Street
Carole Pickle
August 20, 2012
Such a gifted physician, you made all of us better parents with your kind attitude and gentle manner with our children. You will be missed! My condolences to your entire family and staff.
Rebekah Fujita Cypress
August 20, 2012
We will surely miss him. He was a wonderful and kind person. We were so fortunate to have had such amazing care.
Christine Nelson
August 19, 2012
I am so saddened to read of Joel's death. He was a wonderful pediatrician and a dear man. I have too many fond memories to relate. My thoughts, love and prayers go out to you, Judy, and to Bob and all who loved Joel. Miller Children's and its extended family will miss him very much.
Stacey Castro
August 19, 2012
Dr. Widelitz, my family will miss you. You were one of the first people to meet my first son Diego. It was a pleasure having you in my and my boys life. You, your family and staff are in our thoughts and prayers. You were taken from this earth too soon but I hope you are at peace, I know you will watch over all you have touched in your amazing life.
Dawn Eddards
August 19, 2012
I was so happy when I found him as a Pediatrician for my children. He was there every time we needed him and always entered the room with a smile. He made a point of engaging the children and helping them realize how important they are. He will truly be missed. My prayers and thoughts go to the family of such a wonderful and caring man.
August 19, 2012
Joel was a truly wonderful doctor who made children amazingly comfortable under the worst of situations, when they were ill.....
Lois and Phil Wachovsky
...and of course Gerry who went to Dr Wiedltz as a child.
Teresa Butorac and family
August 19, 2012
You will always live in our hearts and prayers.
Lorrie Simmerman
August 19, 2012
From cuts and scrapes to mono and meningitis you were there for my kids--Matthew and Angela. You calmed Matthew's fear and tolerated Angela as she bounced around the room. You will never truly know how much you impacted our lives. There are still times when I answer my phone and say "Dr. Kaplan and Widelitz office. Can you please hold?" God bless you Dr. Widelitz and may he keep you in his loving arms.
<3 Lorrie, Matthew, and Angela Simmerman
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