Roger Goodfriend

Roger Barry Goodfriend, M.D., F.A.C.S. May 1, 1929 - January 4, 2013 Resident of Monte Sereno Roger passed away after a 10 year decline into the ravages of Alzheimers with his wife and son at his side. He was born in Philadelphia but was raised in New York. He was preceded in death by his parents Casper Solomon and Gladys Goodfriend of New York and Sarasota, FLA, and his 18 year old son Mark. Roger leaves behind his wife of 39 years, Sallija; son Neal (Terry) and grandchildren, Steven, Kristen and Erin of Sanger, Texas; daughter Annette (Seth) and grandson Isadore of Oakland, CA. His brother, Lewis of New York and nephews Daniel of New York and Rabbi Jeffrey Adam Goodfriend of South Carolina. After graduating from Stanford University in 1950, he spent one year in Dental School in Pennsylvania but decided dentistry was not for him and went on to attend medical school in Europe at the University of Liege in Belgium graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1956. Internship was at the university of Iowa followed by two years (1958-1960) in the United States Army. Because he was fluent in French, he was sent to Cambodia with a MAG unit. Upton his discharge, Roger returned to California to start his Residency in General Surgery and Urologic Surgery at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco. He started his private practice in 1964 in Los Gatos and was on the staff at O'Connor and Good Samaritan Hospitals but held a special place in his heart for Los Gatos Community Hospital where he served several times as Chief of Surgery, Chief of Urology and for 25 years served on the Executive Committee for the Department of Surgery. He also served on the Credentials Committee and numerous other committees. From 1965-1982, he was a Clinical Instructor advancing to Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at Stanford University; he was also a consultant at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Diplomat of the American Board of Urology, member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association and a Qualified Medical Examiner. Some of the organizations in which he participated are Western Section of Urology, American Urologic Association, Northern California Urologic Association, A.M.A., San Jose Surgical Society, California Medical Association, Santa Clara Valley Medical Association and several others. In July 1972, Roger made medical history at Los Gatos Community Hospital by being the first person in the world to successfully disintegrate kidney stones without 'cutting' on the patient by using ultrasound via an instrument he invented and built himself along with the help of his neighbor and good friend Bill Goddard of I.B.M. This event was broadcast and noted in publications around the world and letters poured in from every continent from people with kidney stones requesting to be seen. In 2000 he was invited to speak on this subject during the history session of the American Urologic Association Meeting in Atlanta and the original prototype was presented to a medical museum, the William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History in Linthicum, Maryland. Roger holds a U.S. Patent for the original instrument along with five other patents he worked on; he received an award from NASA for helping them with a patent. Roger also had numerous articles published in various medical journals, UROLOGY and JAMA being of note. Every three to four years, Roger would take a month or two away from his private practice to donate his time at a mission hospital in a foreign country. He went on over nine medical missionary trips during his career. He did two separate tours of two months each with the HOPE ship in Brazil, once in Natal and then in Maceio; he went back again later for another month at the invitations of the Brazilian government. He had donated his time in Brazil, going up the Amazon to visit leper colonies; he spent six weeks in northern Thailand, operating at a mission hospital and visiting remote tribal villages on elephant back. Several trips were made to Grenada, once at the invitation of the government to operate at their only hospital and two more return visits to teach general surgeons urology. He spent time on St. Lucia as the only surgeon on the entire island, and went to St. Vincent twice, once to operate at the local hospital and again to teach the local medical students. Attending tennis tournaments was one of his favorite pastimes as was playing; for over 40 years, he played every Wednesday afternoon with the same set of 'boys' at Saratoga Tennis Club and he enjoyed playing doubles on weekends with his wife at Courtside Tennis Club but his most favorite pastime was fishing, especially with his son Neal at Fallen Leaf Lake. A special heartfelt thank you to the caregivers at BonHomie House-Saratoga, Grace and Arnel, who took care of Roger with such care and kindness during his last few months and a very grateful thank you to the Vitas Hospice nurses for the excellent round the clock care the last week of Roger's life; the support extended to the family was greatly appreciated. Friends and colleagues are invited to attend a memorial service Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El 1010 University Ave., San Jose. A luncheon reception to follow at the Temple. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honour of Roger to the Alzheimer's Association or Vitas Hospice.