Edward A. SMELOFF

SMELOFF, Edward A.,
M.D., F.A.C.S.
July 31, 1925 - March 23, 2012
Ed Smeloff, M.D., passed on March 23, 2012 at Sutter Memorial Hospital where he had devoted his entire professional life as an innovative Cardiovascular Surgeon. He was surrounded by loving family and many friends and colleagues. Ed's wife and loving companion Jennie died in 1998. Ed is survived by his daughter Chris Lodge and her children Quint and Eric; son Ed Jr., wife Diana and their children Alex and Maya; son Jeffrey and his son Jarrett and daughter Elizabeth.

Ed was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His father was an immigrant from Russia and he was proud of his Russian heritage. The extended Smeloff clan enjoyed frequent family reunions in Northern California. Ed graduated from Temple Medical School in 1948 and then pursued his interest in Chest Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh just as the era of 'Open Heart Surgery' was developing. He was present at the initial efforts of 'Open Heart Surgery' and devoted the rest of his life to this specialty.

Ed was drafted into the Air Force as a medical Officer and served at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, AZ. He served there with Dr. Milo Nittler who introduced Ed to Sacramento and California. Ed drove his family from Pennsylvania to Sacramento in 1957 when he set up his medical practice. Ed was granted surgical privileges in August, 1957 at Sutter Memorial Hospital and later developed a research laboratory and team to initiate the first Cardiac Surgery in the Central Valley and one of the first in California. On September 24, 1959 the first 'Open Heart Surgery' in Central California was performed at Sutter Memorial.

Simultaneously, Ed and several colleagues in Bioengineering at Sac State invented and produced the first Titanium Heart Valve and he was honored internationally for this achievement. A long series of 'Firsts' followed during the remainder of his career. Over 40,000 'open heart' surgeries have now been performed at Sutter Memorial with exemplary survival statistics. To date, over 16 fully trained Cardiovascular Surgeons have been recruited to bring their expertise and experience to the Sutter Heart Team providing Pediatric Heart Surgery, Heart Transplantation, Ventricular Assist Device Therapy Atrial Fibrillation surgery, transcatheter valve surgery and all other aspects of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. A legacy to his pioneering advances in cardiac surgery in Sacramento and internationally.

Ed was always most gracious and sharing with his family and medical colleagues. He loved Hawaii, where he scuba dived and golfed. He was also an expert skier. His thousands of patients hardly ever saw him, but he remained in their hearts as an attentive and expert surgeon with great concern for the patients he cared for.

From Ed Smeloff's pioneering efforts, imagination and dedication, the Citizens of California have received a widely recognized center for the care of infant and adult heart disease that remains as his finest memorial. Ed's spirit and enthusiasm still guides us.

A celebration of his life is scheduled on April 7 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm at Del Paso Country Club. Donations in his memory should be made to the Sutter Heart and vascular Institute or the Sutter Institute for Medical Research.