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Ruth Hirsch Beloff Grobstein

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New York University University of California Los Angeles Yale University

Ruth Grobstein Obituary

GROBSTEIN--Ruth Hirsch Beloff. Born to Bernard and Sarah Hirsch on January 2, 1924 in New York City, Ruth Grobstein died peacefully of pulmonary failure with her daughters at her side on February 25th. She was a woman of great strength and a distinguished biologist and oncologist, receiving a BA from NYU, Ph.D. in Biology from Yale, and M.D. from UCLA while in her 50s. She was the Founding Director of the Ida and Cecil Green Cancer Center at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, where she pioneered treatment of breast cancer without mastectomy. Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband, Clifford Grobstein, and is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Sandy and Jim Wilbur of NYC and Vermont, Beth Beloff and Marc Geller of Houston, TX, and Robin Beloff-Wachsberg and Abe Wachsberg of Santa Rosa, CA, as well as 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Memorial service will take place on April 6 at 1:00 at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Her family will receive friends at her home following the memorial. Donations can be made to San Diego Hospice or breast cancer research.

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Published by New York Times from Mar. 1 to Mar. 2, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Ruth Grobstein

Sponsored by Beth Beloff.

16 Entries

Judy Sellers

January 30, 2016

Dr.Grobstein is someone I think of and smile. She taugh me to be strong confidence,& sure of my self. I worked for her after her illness but she stayed busy reading novels (back pages first)visiting friends,playing Monday night card games and most of all giving great advice. I have so many memories 1stands out I got sick and had to go to the ER at Kaiser,the doctors were sending me home without tests being preformed. Dr.Grobstein made calls to the ER and I had staff running tests and wanting to get dinner for me. She was a special lady that seen greatness in everyone.

Judy Sellers

January 30, 2016

Paul Krochmal

March 10, 2008

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Bob and Eleanor Moss

March 5, 2008

Cousin Ruthie, my "fraternal twin" is now gone. We were born three weeks apart and because our parents were close in those formative years(Ruth's mother was my father's sister) we shared many childhood,teen-aged and college-aged adventures,the memories of which lasted a lifetime for the both of us. Goodby Dear Cousin,

Chuey Carrillo

March 5, 2008

I will always remember Dr. Grobstein as a very special person for me. She loved my children and helped me in many ways.
She treated me as a bestfriend and not as an employee, that cleaned her house for 31 years. She was always there for me when I needed her help. I miss her very much. I spent half my life being in her home more than mine.

Debra Decker

March 3, 2008

What an inspiration this woman has been for me. I much admired how she was able so successfully to redefine herself in mid-life and tackle a difficult new career path. And she made it look so easy because she always looked so good. What a lady! My sympathies to the whole family. With love, Debra

Arthur Adelberg

March 2, 2008

I maintain to this day the fondest memories of a month I spent with Ruth and her family in 1962. She was a most generous and loving person. My heartfelt sympathies to Sandy, Beth and Robin.

Margaret Lloyd

February 29, 2008

Ruth is my step-son's (Justin Randolph) grandmother, and I was lucky to know her. She was a gracious woman who always made me feel welcome at family gatherings.

My most treasured memory of Ruth is when my sister Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. I will never forget the kindness she showed, not only to me but to my sister who she did not know. Ruth shared medical information, knowledge, contacts, and advice---freely and lovingly. She was a great resource and source of strength to Linda as she struggled with very difficult decisions. And she was my guide on how to best help Linda. The time she took with us was beyond belief, and we will never, ever forget her kindness.

Linda said, "I want you to know how much Ruth helped me when I was undergoing breast cancer treatment. She was generous with her time, her knowledge, and her advice. I felt so much better knowing that I had such an advocate on my side. She helped me make better choices and/or feel good about the choices I made." Margaret Lloyd and Linda Green

February 28, 2008

Although we never knew Dr. Grobstein, we owe her so much for the wonderful 17 years we were able to spend with our mother/grandmother after her cancer diagnosis in 1984. She was one of the first to be offered the option of having a lumpectomy with chemo and radiation. She passed away at age 70 of other causes.

Ruth Covell

February 28, 2008

Ruth was my best friend in every way - at the drop of a hat always there. My fondest memories will be when she and Cliff hopped into their sports car and whisked my 8 day old son David off to his bris; this Fall when we took David's fiancee Audrey to the house to get Ruth's approval-she wanted them to get married under the famous tree and she would look out the window; and during the fires when I visited her at the Grant and she had room service lunch ordered, mustered up the energy to sit on the side of the bed and we shared a lot of memories and some first class wine, she seemed like her old self for a precious hour. She was a unique, wonderful person. From another Dr. Ruth (Covell)

David Simon

February 28, 2008

Ruth was my Godmother and I will miss her terribly. She was an absolute one-of-a-kind. I will never forget her love of big dogs ("little dogs, little brains") or the way she used to try to convince me to go into Radiation Oncology...which I should have. She was am amazing lady and those of us who knew her are better for it. I'm sure she and Cliff are listening to some great music and sipping a glass of wine.

Peter Tenzer

February 28, 2008

Beth & Marc, Our deepest sympathy for your loss. Our thoughts are with you in your sorrow.

Peter & JoAnne Tenzer

Judi Curry

February 28, 2008

I met Dr. Ruth when I was a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient 13 years ago. She was my third opinion because I had two diverse opinions from other physicians. I still marvel at the time she took with me; the explanations, the diagrams, "what if's." Never have I had a doctor that was so genuinely concerned as she was for me. To this day I believe I owe her my life. The medical world has lost an icon. I only hope that the teachings that she did live on and on.

Phyllis Corkill

February 28, 2008

I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in June, 1997. I was fortunate to become a patient of Dr. Grobstein's and after two surgeries to get "clear margins" she was my anchor to help me make a decision not to have a masectomy as she felt very confident that I could be successfully treated with radiation treatments. That was 10 years ago and so far I am still cancer free. Dr. Grobstein was truly a dedicated physician and a GREAT person. I am far richer for having known and been treated by her and her staff back in 1997. My sympathies to all of the family. May she rest in peace.

Sincerely,

Robert H. Smith

February 28, 2008

In my lifetime I’ve had the privilege to meet some very remarkable people and Ruth Grobstein, M.D. is certainly one of them.

When I joined Chancellor Dr. William McGill’s staff at the University of California, San Diego in November 1969, he asked me to report to Dr. Clifford Grobstein. Soon after I met Dr, Grobstein’s wife Ruth and recognized her as person fully focused on helping those with medical needs. What did she do to enhance the opportunity to assist; she went back to school completing her medical training. In 1977, I joined the development office staff at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla soon to become vice president of that office. During my tenure there (1977 – 1989) Dr. Grobstein and I had many interactions during her directorship of the Ida M. and Cecil H. Green Cancer Center and her diligent work in radiation therapy.

Thank you, Ruth Grobstein, for touching my life.

Robert H. Smith, JD

beth beloff

February 28, 2008

My mother was surely unique, and we will miss her very much. She fought for life to the end in her typical courageous and control-oriented way. She will live forever in my heart.
Betsy

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