Gerald W. Sobel MD

Dr. Sobel was my husbands doctor from 1973 until his practice changed shortly before he retired. He got us through a very tough time with compassion, calmness and caring. His was a life well spent. To his family, my condolences. He was one of the last of the "old time" always there, always listening doctors.
Janis Levinson

Best doctor I ever had. Top notch. We love you boss. God bless you and your family. Eric and Renee dulkin. Mother and son. My mom knew him for 34 years . Me 19. Rip my friend and you will always be in our hearts forever

Jerry was one of the best "of the best". My condolences

to Lynn and all of the family; my thoughts are with you.

Being a young nurse at Michael Reese Hospital...I knew the difference of a caring medical doctor when I felt the compassion that Dr Sobel had for his patients so my own parents were in his personal care until the last days of their lives...god bless him...he was a gem of a human being and I enjoyed his respect for nurses questions and took the time to help in any situation...I am happy to say he taught me and helped me a great deal thank you Dr.Sobel! susan

By Kaylee Koenig, in memory of Uncle Jerry
2-5-17

NOW THAT YOU'RE GONE
Verse
My eyes fill with tears every time I think of you, I think to myself it was
too soon, I am really going to be missing you, and now that you're gone...

Chorus
My heart feels like there is a big hole that will never be filled. I try not
to think about you but now that you're gone it will never be filled.

Verse
I am sad that your time has come to an end, but I know you will be
watching over me, and were a really close best friend, but now that you're
gone...

Chorus
My heart feels like there is a big hole that will never be filled. I try not
to think about you but now that you're gone it will never be filled.

Verse
I wish you were with me, so we could be together, and spend more time
together, And make more memories, because now all I have are memories
of you, I am really going to miss you, So now that you're gone

Chorus
My heart feels like there is a big hole that will never be filled. I try not
to think about you but now that you're gone it will never be filled.
Dedicated to,
Uncle Jerry

February 5, 2017

Dear Loved Ones:

Uncle Jerry left us today, quietly and without fanfare, his signature way. Such a sad and sorrowful day for us left here without him.

I asked Mom about Jerry as a young boy and young man. She told me he was easy to smile, easy to laugh, had many friends and that, the same as his Mother Sonia, everyone liked him. She said his easy going, 'happy-go-lucky' way belied his serious and committed inner nature. I asked her if he had a close relationship with David, his Father. She told me that David adored Jerry, calling Jerry his 'Sunny Boy", a unique sentiment of warmth and love from David Sobel. Life in Beaumont and as a son of European immigrants gave Sunny Boy the substance and values he would take and share for his 87 years.

My memories of him begin in my childhood when he would bring his family to Texas to visit his Mom and Dad, and then I would get to play with my cousins! I remember him being reserved but always interested in what was going on with me, how I liked school, how I was doing learning to read the Torah, and how my Mother was getting along. From my first memory of him to the last, I strongly remember his professorial way of talking, his real pleasure in describing an idea or an issue or a concept, and his little laugh or giggle at the end of that vignette, as if describing or sharing his knowledge was itself, for him, an act of joy.

His picture (along with my Father, Uncle Billy, and me) adorns my kitchen wall where I see him each and every morning and evening. It was November 4, 1967, the day of my Bar Mitzvah, on the pulpit of Houston's Temple EmanuEl. He was the most handsome of us all, standing bolt upright, perfect posture, dignified and in honor of my 'passage into manhood' in his and our beloved Jewish faith. In the year 2000, 33 years later, we 4 men ended up together again at Janice's house in Dallas, and that picture sits directly below the Bar Mitzvah picture. Jerry had on a cool Hawaiian shirt and t-shirt and a big smile, and looked like he was heading to a happy party--which he was.

In between (and before and after!) those two pictures Gerald W. Sobel lived the life we should all dream of, aspire to, and emulate. To what am I referring?

First of all, in his own way, he gave great honor to his Mother and Father, Commandment #1. He did this in largest part by being a person of the highest moral and ethical standards, dedicated to his family and loved ones, his patients, and his community. What more could a Mother and Father ask of their child? Jerry took no opportunity in this precious life for granted, including his studies at Rice University and the University of Texas Medical School. On every Saturday of my young life in Houston, riding on Sunset boulevard to Temple for Sabbath School, I passed Rice University and Uncle Jerry was who came to mind--how nice for me! And then off he went to internship and residency, marriage to his life's partner Lynne, Japan, children, and a dose of life in medical practice that was and is simply unparalleled. He left his mark of genius, effort, compassion, expertise, dedication, and genuine care on literally thousands of us, all the while living a whirlwind life with Lynne and his wonderful children. Such a well traveled life full of endless experiences, always looking not only for the fun but also for the history and meaning in every place he and Lynne visited--including a search for his parents childhood village in Eastern Europe.

Uncle Jerry was generous in any number of ways to so many. When one works the kind of hours he did for so long, that kind of 'self' generosity (giving of self) is something that is only seen and felt by the patients he unfailingly served. His generosity to his family is obvious in the outcome and quality of his children and grandchildren, and by the opportunities his efforts afforded them. This of course culminated in his youngest son joining him in Sobel and Associates, surely I imagine one of his happiest days on earth. His generosity to Lynne (and of course returned to Jerry and their children) is obvious in her seeming ageless beauty and energy, at least some of which has to be due to living with Jerry Sobel for 5+ decades! He sent my Mom and Dad various medicines from his office for endless numbers of years, and was always available to offer advice when asked. When I was completing my Internal Medicine residency, Uncle Jerry quietly told me that he would be thrilled for me to join him in practice in Chicago--such an honor for me and such a generous offer from him.

From Temple EmanuEl in Beaumont to the moment of his passing, Uncle Jerry's faith in God and his dedication to Jewish traditions were cornerstones of his life. Shabbat dinners with Lynne, kids and grandkids were his blessed and loved routines, and High Holy day (with those flu shots!) custom and ceremony defined the cyclic nature of each of his year's rhythms. These loving and important lessons came from David and Sonia, and he enthusiastically shared them with his loved ones, again unfailingly serving his family.

One thing I know for certain is that Gerald Sobel and Bertha Sobel have always been the 'smartest people in the room' wherever they have been. These months and years seeing Uncle Jerry decline as his life ebbed have been heartbreaking, but I am sure most difficult for him more than any other. Lynne and his children have cared for him in these difficult days with the kind of love that defines family, and I know of no one who deserved it more than Uncle Jerry. He is one, however, whose grand life completely overshadows any and all hardships of these last weeks and months.

In watching my son Ben grow over these last years I am constantly struck by how earnest he is--how his happiness is really happy, how his sadness is really sad, and how unfettered his sensibilities are by the ravages of human experience and the silliness of things like the internet and the news. I always ask Trina "how can we keep Ben earnest, keep him from becoming jaded and self-consumed?". Today it finally dawned on me that the essence of the Gerald Sobel I knew is the person I have been wishing for my own 'Sonny Boy' to become. Certain common human qualities were absolutely missing in Uncle Jerry: deceit, manipulation, anger, sorrow, self indulgence, and self importance. What he possessed and shared was his lifelong earnestness, his dedication, his gentle nature, his curiosity, and of course his quiet love and faith. He demonstrated his being by his deeds, and tonite as he has passed from our midst, I can only be grateful for the long life he lived to share with his parents, his sister Bertha, his wife and children, and with me--by being the example of a man I wish my son to emulate. I hope that someday Ben reads these words about our Great Uncle Jerry, and that he might feel some of what Jerry gave to us all by example, and that he might make Gerald Sobel's way become his way. What more could I ask for my child?

Thank you Uncle Jerry, I love you.

Love
Barry

Barry M. Rose MD
Sausalito, CA

You have my deepest sympathy. May the God of loyal love comfort the family during this time of sorrow. Psalms 119:7

Please receive my most heartfelt condolences to the entire Sobel Family. May God reward the kindness and care he extended to his patients.

Sending my deepest condolences to Dr. Sobel's Family, friends and patient's...He was the first Doctor I ever worked for & He was amazing! I think of the little tiny office on Wabash Ave. he started with Dr. Tatar and all the patients and co-workers I had the pleasure of working with...what a great team we had. May He Rest in Peace.


Judy Bean,Chicago,IL

To Aunt Lynne and the entire Sobel and Robbins families, I send my deepest sympathy. Among so many outstanding qualities, I add the degrees of historian and tour director. He was the trivia king on the wonderful and exciting trips we took together and he was the "Googler" of maps long before "Google Map."

May you find comfort knowing how many lives he touched.

With love and respect,
Ned

What an amazing, gracious and loving man! You will be missed Uncle Jerry! Your legacy strongly lives on, so many wonderful memories. We love you- Eric, Tamara and Jack Spiritas

So sorry to hear of Gerald's passing. He was a wonderful, sweet man. May his memory be for a blessing.

To Aunt Lynne and the entire Sobel and Robbins families I send my deepest sympathy. I hope you are finding comfort in your loss knowing how many lives Uncle Jerry touched.

Janice and I will cherish the memories and experiences we shared on our many traveling adventures together. We can certainly add the title of historian to his many degrees and talents! Love you always, Uncle Jerry.

I am heartbroken. Dr. Sobel was my hero. He helped my mother so much and so unselfish. Great doctor, great heart, creator of great family. He is forever in my and my daughter's heart. Not enough words. With all our love. Annie, Mina

So very sorry to hear that Dr. Sobel passed away - it sounds like he was such a wonderful physician, husband, father and friend. With all our love, The Erie Pediatricians

As Jerry's 93 year old loving sister, I am sharing memories that are coming into my thoughts these past days...

Jerry,

I remember you suffered through the whopping cough as a baby of only 6 weeks old.

How you happily played in the back yard of the kindergarten school that was run by the 'old maids' the Kahn sisters.

How you fell from the top of a tree from Don Knapp's yard, and bit your knee. You bounced back fast as always.

How you rode your bike and delivered the Saturday Evening Post for about 2 years in order to pay your debt for your bike.

I remember feeling so proud when you graduated highschool as Valedictorian of your class. Your Grandmother and Grandfather Bittensky were in attendance, they couldn't be happier with all your accomplishments.
Then I watched again, as you graduated college from Rice University with honers. Then, from University of Texas Medical school with even more honers. There was nothing you couldn't do that you set your mind to.

Though these are just a few memories from when we were young, and you made so many more beautiful memories in the years that followed, with you wife Lynn, your children and grandchildren. I will always hold these close to my heart. For it was was wonderful to watch you grow into the man that would make our parents so proud.

I will always miss you and forever think about you.

Your ever loving and devoted sister,

Bertha S. Rose

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow. I hope that your hearts will soon be filled with memories of joyful times as you celebrate Uncle Jerry's rich and fulfilling life.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow. May your hearts soon be filled with bountiful memories of joyful times together, as you celebrate Uncle Jerry's rich life.

I am so sad to hear of Dr. Sobel's passing. For 32 years he provided me with excellent medical care and I always thought of him not only as my doctor, but as a friend. To Mrs. Sobel, Dr. Robert, and Doctor Gerald's entire family, my deepest and sincere sympathy. He was a great man; may his memory be eternal.