Thomas Howard Wentzien

1965 - 2021

Thomas Howard Wentzien
March 10, 1965 - November 15, 2021
Resident of Los Gatos, California
Doctor Thomas Howard Wentzien, beloved physician, husband, father, brother, son, was born March 10th, 1965 in San Francisco, California, and passed away November 15th, 2021, after a long, courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Tom was the "Best of the Best in all ways that mattered." Tom fought AML relentlessly for over three years with the most amazing spirit, courage, optimism, strength and humor imaginable.
Tom was raised in Saratoga, California and graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in physiology in 1987. Tom went on to earn a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the Western University Health Sciences in 1992 with honors. After graduating from medical school, he completed an Internal Medicine residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where he won numerous Resident of the Year awards. Upon completion of a Cardiology Fellowship at UC Davis he returned to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where he started the cardiac device program, and became the Director of the Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Services.
Incredibly passionate about patient care, Tom loved teaching residents and students, and fervently upheld Valley Medical Center's mission to provide the best healthcare to all. He won Consultant of the Year Award and three Faculty Teacher of the Year awards. This award has since been named after him in his honor. Tom provided exemplary leadership to SCVMC as a dedicated member of the medical staff, serving as Chairman of the Department of Medicine and President of the Medical Staff. He was incredibly proud to be a "public servant" especially in the Valley where he grew up. His unbridled enthusiasm for life and his dedication to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and the county were unparalleled. He served the county through his practice at SCVMC for over 25 years.
During this time, Tom married Erin McNutt, and they had two boys, Collin and Torrin Wentzien. An exemplary husband and father, Tom traveled the world with Erin and later they traveled as a family. Tom was also incredibly passionate about soccer. He continued to play as an adult and coached both his children. He shared his love for soccer, music, travel, fishing and the outdoors with his wife and boys, going on frequent hikes, runs and sharing long music playlists. During his final days, he would be seen at the soccer field, cheering on his boys. Tom is so loved and dearly missed.
Tom is survived by his wife, Erin Wentzien, sons Collin and Torrin Wentzien, brother Christopher Wentzien and his wife Vilma Wentzien, sisters Elizabeth Haughey and Judith Wentzien, mother Marion Wentzien, niece Lily Ana Sturgis and her husband Jeff Sturgis, nephews William and Hayden Haughey and Isaac Wentzien, and niece Marion Fowler.


View the online memorial for Thomas Howard Wentzien