Dr. Jerome Franz passed away Wednesday, May 13th from complications related to atypical Parkinson's at Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco. He was 76.
He was born January 8, 1944 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Joseph and Norma Franz. He was raised in Skokie, Illinois and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1962. Following high school he attended Cornell University where he put himself through college washing dishes in the school's cafeteria. He graduated with an English Degree in 1966.
After college Jerry moved to New York City where he was a social worker and did not own a TV. In 1968 he moved to San Francisco and continued to work in public service until he decided to pursue a career in medicine. He graduated medical school from UC Davis in 1977 and completed his residency at Presbyterian Hospital in 1983 becoming a General Practitioner with specialties in internal medicine and geriatrics.
Dr. Franz was the best example of what a doctor should be. His patients took precedence over policy. He rode his bicycle all over the city making house calls and visiting patients in nursing homes. He volunteered with Project Homeless Connect on weekends and was truly committed to serving the underserved.
He worked in private practice on Cesar Chavez for most of his career and was closely affiliated with St. Luke's Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). At St Luke's he served as Chief of Staff and he was a long standing member of the CPMC ethics committee. Even after retiring, he was unable to give up medicine, spending the last few years of his life volunteering at The Clinic By the Bay.
Jerome's life was forever changed in 1972 when he met artist Helen Chellin. He famously told a friend that day that "he was going to marry her" and they did, two years later in Carmel, California. Helen kept Jerry busy stretching canvases, knocking down walls, and building sculptures for 46 incredible years.
He is survived by 3 children: Samara, Isaac, and CJ. He has 2 son-in-laws: Eric and Scott, a daughter-in-law Melissa, and 4 grandchildren: Maylen, Zoe, Zeke, and Gracien. Jerry will have another grandson this September. He also leaves behind 3 siblings: Norman, Paulette, and Ron. He is predeceased by 2 brothers: John Paul and Bob.
A memorial will be held after COVID-19 restrictions ease and people can safely get together and celebrate Dr. Franz's life. An announcement of time and place will be made in The Chronicle. The family would like to thank the Palliative Care team at Sutter Health and Coming Home Hospice. We are forever grateful for the kindness and care you showed him when we could not be there. If you would like to make a donation in his honor, please consider The Clinic By the Bay, Coming Home Hospice, or Doctors Without Borders.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from May 20 to May 24, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Jerome Franz

15 Entries

Deborah

May 14, 2024

So lovely to see your face again. Thinking about you today...oxoxoxo

Michelle Cole

May 15, 2023

You were a great doctor, Dr. Franz. We need more like you!

Deborah

May 14, 2023

Thinking of what a lovely, multi-talented man he was. Who knew a doc could be a set maker for his talented wife, and a chef and fabulous host. One of a kind.

Walter Alexander

March 12, 2022

Rest in Peace, Dear Jerry. I was your apartment mate on Eddy Street in Ithaca, senior year at Cornell. Your life, it seems, was a grace to many.

Michelle Cole

May 17, 2021

Dr. Franz: You were a great doctor - with a huge heart! One of the best. R.I.P.

Tanya Carolyn Holstun

December 14, 2020

I had him as a patient in 2004 he was the only doctor that knew I was having an anxiety attack. Sending my love & condolences to his family.

Tanya Carolyn Holstun

December 14, 2020

He was a very good doctor got to see him in 2004 he told my mom I was having an anxiety attack. Sending my love and condolences to his family.

Dana DeSimone

July 10, 2020

I'm a former patient of Dr. Franz, and knew him from the days when he practiced medicine on Army/Cesar Chavez st..at Golden Gate Medical Group..a total throwback to the old days of the GP..a great guy with a wicked sense of humor..i started with Dr. Franz in 1984, when i had long red hair, and he had jet black..a great great man, and i'm truly sorry to hear this..One memory i have is that Dr. Franz saved my foot from being amputated as i had a botched surgery and went to see Dr. Franz who immediately put me in the hospital..To this day, i'll always thank him..Towards the end of his career as an Internist, as my hair receded and his turned gray, and we always joked about it, he always had this great habit of bringing in really good lookin' young female doctors to teach and train....Not being disrepectful, or anything, just that women doctors, like his patients, really liked him..one other memory was when he hurt his hip after a bike ride..and he had a limp like i did, we'd always come out of the office gimping, and making fun of it..kind of scared some patients but he was just a truly truly great doctor..i will sure miss him..please keep me informed on when a service/memorial will be done for him..

Eric Noble

May 28, 2020

So many memories of Jerry and his winsome smile as he knocked and entered the examining room where he saw me for twenty years as his trusting patient; as he set up the barbecue for the annual Toilet Bowl that Matt and Michael (and many others) held every year on Superbowl Sunday in Rossi Park in San Francisco; as he rode up with his bicycle gang on their weekly Sunday jaunt, so lithe and fit; as we would run into each at the oddest moments, almost as the yarrow sticks of the I Ching would foretell the moment. Jerry, you left us too soon but your passing was swift leaving behind a rich legacy.

Renee Ollar

May 25, 2020

Uncle Jerry was such an amazing man, husband, father, brother and uncle. He always spoke so softly. Having him come to my daughters wedding was absolutely the best! Hadnt seen him for quite sometime and then getting to spend time with him at the wedding and at breakfast was such a joy! I love you Uncle Jerry~you are loved by so many and will be missed by so many. Rest In Peace.

Deborah Slater

May 24, 2020

We've lost a remarkable, gentle, complexly talented, smart human being - a one of kind. People like Dr. Jerome Franz make the world feel like a decent place to live. I'm so sorry to never eat another of his fabulous dinners, while having fun with Isaac, CJ and Mz Helen. Much, much love to you all. As another person said, he was a Mensch.

David Goldschmid

May 22, 2020

It is hard to write about Jerome. As much as I plan to write, it seems not enough. I had the great pleasure of working with him at Clinic By The Bay where he volunteered. I was able to see first hand his amazingly great fund of knowledge and his ability to think through difficult problems with limited resources. Drawing on things he had seen some 30 years before, he was able to instantly recognize Leprosy in a new patient that had been undiagnosed for many years by others. He was a brilliant physician. We often sought out his advice. His sense of humor, bolstered by the honey (from his hives) that he would bring, would help keep a serious environment light-hearted and endurable. I believe that no physician in the universe cared more about their patients than did Jerome. The unique combination of his empathy, experience, and intellect allowed him to provide his patients with unequalled care. His love for volunteering at Clinic by the Bay was openly visible and the love the staff had for him was beautiful to watch. He was the penultimate Mensch a man with integrity, humility, a sense of what is right, dignity, and honor. We miss him and will remember him.
David Goldschmid, MD

Georgea Muschel

May 22, 2020

l loved Jerry, his dry sense of humor, his low key playfulness, his attentiveness, his graceful and easy way he was around his children, his total love and devotion to his wife, my friend Helen and from what I heard his patients adored him. They were so lucky to have had him as their doctor. I was lucky to have known him and the loss to his family and those who loved him is huge. He will be so missed.

Paulette Wenke

May 22, 2020

I will miss you forever my brother and my friend. I will miss your bluer than blue eyes and your smile that lights up your face. I'm forever grateful that you and Helen came to see us last June. We have always had such a good time together. Rest in peace my sweet brother. You are always in my heart. I love you. Ron loves you. Thank you for being my brother.