Caleb Foote

Caleb Foote V Died at home in Berkeley on his 67th birthday, November 3, 2010. He was born in Stockton, Ca. in 1943 to Reverend Arthur Foote and Rebecca Clark Foote. The family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where his father became the minister of Unity Church. Caleb survived a life-threatening illness as a young child, which influenced his tenacious spirit for life. He attended St. Paul Academy and thoroughly enjoyed military school, sports, and friends. Summers were spent with extended family in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Caleb married Susan Bartlett in 1965, and they raised two children, Rebecca and Ben. Caleb graduated from Harvard in 1966, and received his M.D. from Case Western Reserve in 1970. After an internship in surgery at U.C. San Diego, he spent two years as medical director of a clinic for migrant farm workers in Delano, Ca. The family moved to Berkeley in 1973, where Caleb practiced emergency medicine at Kaiser Hayward. After 15 years in the ER, Caleb helped create and was chief of the Division of Sports Medicine and Medical Orthopedics at Kaiser Union City. Caleb and Susan divorced in 1987, but share the legacy of a wonderful family. In 1988, Caleb met his future wife, Laurie. They shared a loving partnership for over 22 years. Caleb retired at 60, after 30 years at Kaiser. He embraced life so fully. He fulfilled his dream of building a cottage on the family property on the coast of Maine. He constructed it almost singlehandedly over three summers. He loved sailing, hiking, waterskiing, biking, swimming, golfing, and watching college football, especially the Cal Bears. He had a passion for learning, and continued studying a diverse range of topics. In 2009, Caleb was diagnosed with a rare leukemia. He was fortunate to receive a perfect match for his bone marrow transplant this last summer. However, a cure was not to be. Caleb said he was sad to leave the "party" and his beloved family and friends. He will be remembered for the twinkle in his eye, his warm smile, welcoming voice, and big hugs. He so enjoyed being a father, and was so proud of the fine individuals his children had become. He was a nurturing, playful, and joyful grandfather. He was a gifted physician. He was a mentor to many in his roles as doctor, father, uncle, coach, and friend. He was a true friend and most loving husband. Caleb is survived by his wife, Laurie Goodfellow, his daughter, Rebecca Clark Greenwald(Jeff Greenwald), his son, Benjamin Eliot Foote (Faye Katherine Foote), grandchildren, Allie and Will Greenwald, and Liam and Mateo Foote, sister, Fran Stehman, former wife, Susan Foote, sisters-in-law, Shannon Goodfellow and Mary Goodfellow, father-in-law, Patrick Goodfellow, nephews, Patrick Fowler and Laurence Fowler, and nieces, McKenzie Fowler, Conchita Foote Huddlestan, Pepper Cwik, Bonnie Lockhart, and Kristin O'Gorman. Sincere thanks to his physicians, especially Dr. David Baer and Dr. Wen-Kai Weng, his nurses, and other caregivers who were part of Caleb's team. A celebration of Caleb's life will be planned in the spring. Donations can be made to PBS-KQED (kqed.org).