Alan Sherwood Medoff

Dr. Alan Medoff, 97, took his final nap on Tuesday, April 11th in Albuquerque, New Mexico, surrounded by loved ones.

Alvin Sherwood Medoff was born October 25, 1925, to David and Shirley in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. His younger sister, Ilene, shared that their mother nicknamed him "the Prince" and treated him like one. Alan's first job was fetching deli sandwiches late in the evening for the guests at his mother's poker table. He formed a bicycle club (his Blue Schwinn birthday present was his most prized possession), played competitive stickball, and performed in Gilbert and Sullivan musicals at summer camp Lincoln Laurel with his cousins.

On the day after Pearl Harbor, 16-year-old Alan tried to volunteer for the Navy. He was an excellent student, and so the Navy offered to send him to college and medical school. He attended Columbia University and New York Medical College. While a med student, Alan was visiting a cousin who was a patient at the hospital. There in the waiting room, he met the love of his life - Rita Katz. Shortly after they were pinned, and five months later, in December 1948, they were married at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Rita and Alan were married for over 60 years, until Rita's death in 2009.

Alan's military duty took him to Japan during the Korean War, and Rita followed. They welcomed their first child Dianna ("De") in Sapporo, then returned stateside to the Mayo Clinic where he did his specialty training in hematology. There the family expanded with the arrival of son, Jeffrey.

Next stop was Teaneck, New Jersey, where son, Bruce completed the family. Alan opened his private internal medicine practice, rapidly becoming one of the town's preeminent doctors, making house calls with his black bag and taking the time to really listen to his patients. In the Teaneck community, Alan was the doctor for the police department, an adjunct professor of Human Sexuality at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a beloved healer. His winning formula for a long and healthy life included Entenmann's donuts, steak with ketchup, and a nap every afternoon. Stamp collecting, celestial navigation, and photography were Alan's hobbies well into his late 80's.

In 1984, Alan and Rita moved to Rita's hometown of Zurich, Switzerland. As president of the American Club he served repeatedly as president of the American Club, which serviced the American expatriate community in Zurich. He coordinated many events, pulling this community together, and representing the interests of its members to the embassy and consulate.

Rita and Alan relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina in 2004. Alan continued collecting friends and planning parties. As CEO of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out), he would lead friends to Village Tavern and other establishments that did not mind voluminous laughter and copious camaraderie. After Rita's passing, Alan developed a close relationship with Mary Bradley. They enjoyed watching CNN, going to Brown Gardiner and spoiling her friendly poodle, Jolie..

Into his early 90s, Alan would visit with patients at his son's gastroenterology practice, Medoff Medical, sharing his warmth, interest, and time. He had a story, a joke, and a twinkle in his eye for every patient, neighbor, and waitress.

Alan loved children, whistling arias and making birds with his hands. He loved planning, hosting, and attending parties and never turned down an opportunity to offer a toast. He was famous for Irish blessings at family gatherings, and he often quoted Shakespeare, reminding his great-grandchildren with flair and dramatic flourish just weeks ago: "This above all: to thine own self be true."

Dr. Medoff was preceded in death by his beloved wife Rita and granddaughter Jill Lachman. Survivors include sister Ilene Fingeret, children De and Ian Lachman of Albuquerque, Dr. Jeffrey Medoff and Debi Silber of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Dr. Bruce Medoff and Miriam Gordon of San Francisco; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Beth David Synagogue on April 16, 2023 at 11 A.M.