Sheldon Saul Hendler, Ph.D., M.D.

Dear Joyce, It hardly seems so long that hes gone. But then it seems like yesterday that we were at Columbia, and he was banging on my door to wake me for a party or you and I were walking down Broadway to get dinner! He was the poor Brooklyn boy who made good, and helped so many. RIP Shelly!

An unforgettable friend. RIP dear Shelly!

Dear Joyce and Ross, I will never forget Shelly's kindness and professional assistance - or yours, Joyce. Love, Kim

Joyce and Ross, I continue to benefit from the loving care I received from Shelly, and from you, Joyce. Shelly and Seth are a part of me, as are you two. Love, Kim

Dear Joyce, I will never forget our friendship. Through our years at Columbia and later in San Diego. You and Shelly both meant so much to me. As I used to tease him that he was the proverbial poor boy from Brooklyn who makes good, Shelly's life was a blessing to all who knew him, and I miss you both! Love always! Annette

So many memories of both Shelly and Joyce, I don't know where to begin! From our days at Columbia, where I knew each of them before they were together, through my visits to them in NY after I had moved to California and then our get togethers once we were all in San Diego! I always loved to tease Shelly that he was the poor boy from Brooklyn who made good! I loved the fact that his brilliance as a scientist and a musician never got in the way of his being a mensch! Miss you, my friend!!

Reviewing my records for yet another DR's appointment I came across notes from my old friend and physician. Shelly was a treasure beyond words and I credit him with my survival to this point in my long life. I was a young man at the beginning of the HIV epidemic and life was not looking too rosy. Shelly ttok calm control and enlisted me in my own trstment and future. Together we crafted a response to my disease and a plan that we all agreed to. It truly saved my life. Now, 35 years later I am a reltively healthy 66 years old and can credit Shelly's cooperative, reasoned, humanistic pproach for this life I live. I think of him often and continue to "say his name" so he will not vanish as long as I am alive.

Dr Hendler was my true life saver...I was a young woman of 37 (28 yrs ago) when I was sent to him after a very long debilitating & life threatening illness that no one could figure out and after meeting with me for over 3 hrs (what dr does that) he promised me he wasn't going to let me die on his watch..which for the first time in months i actually felt, if someone could help me, it would be him.. so, by the grace of God and Dr H's medical knowledge..I was able to heal & regain my health so I truly owe my life to this man and went on to live a happy healthy life, see my daughter grow into a beautiful woman (who remembers him as the man who helped her Mom get better) and I now have a beautiful grandson too who I have shared this story..so we will always remember him with much love & gratitude and Thank God for putting me in his hands and thou I just read of his passing & have never met your family I felt compelled to share my story & send my deepest heart felt condolences... I am sure he is one of the smartest & most talented of angels in heaven as he was here on earth. ..Sincerely, Carol Zahn

I am so sorry for your loss, but he is still helping people to regain their health. Such a brilliant man. Just started reading his book The Oxygen Breakthrough. It has changed my life. I bought the book about 1990 but just now reading it. Had good health until the last 4 yrs. I'm truly grateful. Thank God for memories

Joyce, I was just on line and saw that Shelly is gone. So sorry. Jack died on June 16,2013. I will miss him for ever as you will Shelly.

Dear Joyce ("Jonnie"), I hold so many memories of you both. Of Shelly..not the brilliant scientist side of him, because I actually knew little of that. He was my friend. And what I knew was the zaniness, the fun, and the musical side of him... from our days at Columbia to our last lunch together in La Jolla just a little over a year ago! He accomplished so much in his relatively short life. Once I joked he was just a "poor boy from Brooklyn who made good and moved to La Jolla." And good he did! I will remember him always! Love, Annette ("Etty")

I remember you both from childhood as friends of my mother Adrienne. For some unknown reason I felt impelled to Google you both today, the week of his memorial as it turns out. You two were the bridge between my mother's generation (1923-1994) and my own. I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Shelley was a brilliant man who spent his life learning and growing. I remember you both with joy.

The work of Dr. Hendler as influenced thousands of people. The research community will miss him dearly. I'm shocked…

Dear Joyce and Ross,
I want to extend my condolences and let you know you are all in my thoughts and prayers. You are such wonderful people, I feel lucky and honored to have spent time with your family.
Love,

Dear Friends,

Shelly's passing on November 12 left me without my darling "Babe", my confidante, my jester, and a big part of my heart. It left Ross without the father and friend who was so important to him. We were not the only ones who felt left behind. Shelly loved life and loved people. And as I was to find out through many tears, his death left a great hole in the lives of many who had known him.

Ross and I, our family, and some friends buried Shelly with a simple graveside ceremony. We decided to hold a proper memorial at another time. That time has come.

On Shelly's 77th birthday, May 12, at 11:30 A.M. we will be presenting a memorial concert at Sherwood Auditorium, here in La Jolla. The concert will feature the jazz he loved so much, and his wonderful friends will be here to play for him. You are invited to join us at the concert, and afterwards to come to the house for a Shelly birthday party. There the music will continue. For sure, Shelly's spirit will be with us. He always loved a party.

Please save the date.

Also let us know if you plan to come by pressing here ([email protected]) and sending.
No need to write a note. We are simply trying to get an idea of how much birthday cake we should order.
We will send you more details in future emails.

We hope to see you at the memorial concert and the party.

With love,

Joyce Hendler and Ross Hendler

May Gods loving kindness comfort and help you through this difficult time. Ps 119:76

Dear Joyce:
Shelly was a genius and a person with a common sense. A rare combination in today world. I will miss him. Please accept my deep condolence.

Great Doctor !
Thank you for all your work !

Dear Joyce and Ross,

I am shocked and saddened to learn of your loss. All who knew and loved him share in your loss. The rest of the world has lost his brilliant mind. I felt Shelly was the person most likely to be awarded a Nobel Prize that it has been my privilege to know. I am profoundly grateful for his professional expertise, and his friendship. Love, Kim

As a former patient of Dr. Hendler, I feel so sad for the family's loss and yet so privileged to have been in his care for a couple of years in the late 1980's. He saved my life, and his way of "doctoring" was to be a friend. I looked forward to my medical visits; we would discuss music, art, philosophy at leisure in his comfy art-filled office.
Thank you, Dr. Sheldon Hendler, prodigy, miracle worker, humanitarian.

My dear, sweet Shelly...eclectic, dynamic polymath, soaring one-of-a-kind comet of intellectual curiosity, thank you for many years of friendship, memorable dialogue on everything under the sun, and your compassionate and giving practice of medicine. My dear, sweet Joyce, how lucky you and Shelly were to have traveled your beautiful odyssey together these many years. With love and profound respect, Dennis

My deepest sympathy to you and Ross. I was so surprise to hear his passing after haven't seen him for quite sometimes. We always admire his brilliant success and his many contributions to the medical field. Will miss him dearly. Please do take care of yourself.

Danny & Kitty Tow, San Diego, California

Joyce, I was so shocked and sorry to hear of your husband's passing. You and I go back many years, though I have such good memories of our work together. My sympathies to you and your family.

Dear Joyce and Ross, Barbara, Joyce, Carol, and I are deeply saddened by the loss of our longtime very dear friend Shelly. Nolan

Dear Joyce,
I want to tell you I'm devastated on learning that you (and We) have lost this giant of a man. I always admired Shelly for his formidable accomplishments. Truly brilliant. And a fine jazz trumpeter too, as I recall an impromptu concert at the Shores one evening when Joy (now deceased two years) played with him. My deepest sympathy.

Dear Joyce,
We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Shelly. He had the ability to inspire and to give reason for hope.

Dear Joyce, so many memories from long ago. a bhudist saying helped me: the only thing that has changed is that he is no longer outside of you he is inside.
much love natasha