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Jordan Wilbur M.D.

1932 - 2016

BORN

1932

DIED

2016

About

Lowell High School Stanford University

Jordan Wilbur Obituary

Jordan R. Wilbur

Apr. 26, 1932 - Oct. 1, 2016

Dr. Jordan Rockwood "Dan" Wilbur, age 84, of Menlo Park, died October 1st, 2016 at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View.

He leaves his three children, Teresa Boldt, Bruce Wilbur, and Benjamin Wilbur; step-children Maria and Michael McKay; one brother, Greg Wilbur; grandchildren Philip, Kevin, and Laura; and great-granddaughter Francesca. He is preceded in death by his brother Dwight (Dee); step-daughter Michelle McKay; first wife Violet, mother of Bruce and Teresa; and second wife Carolee (Chicky), mother of Benjamin.

Born in Rochester, Minn. and raised in San Francisco, Calif., Dan attended Lowell High School in San Francisco, and graduated from Stanford University, after which he was commissioned in the US Navy and served during the Korean War. After his time in the Navy, Dan graduated from Stanford Medical School in 1961. He trained at Children's Hospital in Boston, MD Anderson in Houston, and then became head of the pediatric oncology program at Children's Hospital at Stanford.

In 1977, he began a private practice in San Francisco, where he cared for patients from around the world in his goal to give hope and compassionate care to children with cancer and their families. In recent years, Dr. Wilbur enjoyed staying in contact with his long-term surviving patients and continued his study of the psychosocial effects of childhood cancer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Wilbur's memory to the charity of your choice. Donations can no longer be accepted by Children's Cancer Hope Institute. Favorite stories and condolences can be shared at memorialwebsites.legacy.com/drjordanwilbur. A public memorial service is not planned.

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

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Oct. 4 to Oct. 5, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Jordan Wilbur

23 Entries

Thoughts from the Johnson's

Planted Trees

Gary Johnson

November 30, 2024

I thank Dr. Dan Wilbur for all his treatment and attention he provided for my brother and sisters and myself. he blessed our lives and will fondly remembered and greatly missed. Best wished to Bruce.

Elizabeth Munisoglu

August 1, 2024

I was recently reflecting on my life, and I remembered the days that my son, age 15, was being treated for cancer at Stanford Childrens Hospital. He did not survive the disease, but my husband and I were/are forever grateful for the excellent care he received and for Dr. Wilbur's efforts to save him! God bless Dr. Wilbur, and may he rest in peace!

Andre Winters Cartwright

December 1, 2020

Dr. Wilbur saved my life like many others. Occasionally I would check on him and he was always happy to know I was doing well and made it off the farm alive. I would love to speak with his family. He reminded me about a book documenting the time spent at Stanford Children's Hospital in 1977 entitled Day by Day by Ron Shuman and available at Amazon. I am enternally grateful to him and the staff including Dr. Oscar King and the staff that followed to Pacific Medical Center. God Bless.

Judi OConnell

August 21, 2019

tony mclean

January 31, 2018

First off i can only say this man SAVED MY LIFE! I was first brought to DR. at the age of 5 with wilms tumor and given no time to live..as usual he took that with a grain of salt and continued to treat me as if i was going to live forever...i can say that i am now 44 years old and endured 3 plus years of radiation and chemo and without him i would not be here today...
i will never forget how much he did for me and the things he made sure i got through...it was hard traveling back and forth from las vegas, but we made sure it worked....godspeed my friend...i will forever be indebted
Tony B McLean

Sylvia Oey

June 16, 2017

My brother Fred was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma at the age of 16, in the early 1970's. My parents took him to the Stanford Children's Institute after other specialists declined to try to remove his tumors, stating that the cancer had advanced too far for treatment. Dr. Wilbur and his colleagues operated and started an aggressive treatment program that included both chemotherapy and radiation. Although my brother died of cancer a few years ago, he made the most of the forty years that Dr. Wilbur's treatment offered him, and enjoyed a wonderful marriage, career, and friendships. Thank you, Dr. Wilbur, for your skill and dedication.

James Cherry

April 22, 2017

My sister was his patient at M. D. Anderson and Stanford. When he knew she was terminal, and he could do no more for her, she said he broke down and cried. She had been his patient for 11 yrs.

Cheryl Cloak/Sappenfield

February 14, 2017

Dr Wilbur saved my life when I was diagnosed with ALL at the age of 16. Prayers go out to his family from my family.

Marci Simpson

November 7, 2016

in memory of a truly wonderful man i miss him every day.i love you.

Marci Simpson

November 7, 2016

i owe my life to him.i was diagnosed at 18mos old with A.L.L. in 1976,and my parents were told there was no hope.then dr wilbur came into our lives.i am now 42 yrs old and cured.i have a 23yr old son jordan and a beautiful grandbaby who would not be here if not for him.he was more than my dr,he was family. Anytime i was in the hospital after i was put in remission he would always be there wether a hospital visit for other reasons or a phone call which always ended with a hug and an i love you.he was a very big part of my life and i miss him every day.,i owe my life to him.i was diagnosed at 18mos old with A.L.L. and my parents were told there was no hope.then dr wilbur came into our lives.i am now 42 yrs old and curoldi have a 23yr old son jordan and a beautiful grandbaby who would not be here if not for him.he was more than my dr,he was family. Anytime i was in the hospital after i was put in remission he would always be there wether a hospital visit for other reasons or a phone call which always ended with a hug and an i love you.he was a very big part of my life and i miss him every day.

Aunt Sue Ludemann

October 21, 2016

I remember an Easter party at CCRI where Dr. Wilbur appeared as The Easter Bunny!He was quite a sensation and ensured that the occasion was joyous!
On a more serious note, he was a wonderful, compassionate, dedicated physician and a wonderful, warm human being.

Sonia Bajone

October 9, 2016

Dr. Wilbur will be missed by so many people. He was a very special person
S. Bajone

Dr. WIlbur's 75th birthday bash

A. T.

October 7, 2016

Dr. Wilbur inspired so many people, patients and their families, to have hope in the most trying of circumstances. Who else would have hosted an annual holiday party for current and former patients and their loved ones for over 39 years? Let's continue to celebrate our lives in his memory because that's what he would have wanted.

Laura Euphrat

October 6, 2016

You inspired me as a pediatric RN to start a non profit, Little Wishes and told me that i could do it as if it was as easy as brushing my teeth. You believed in
me and told me you had no doubt I could do it, and because of that THOUSANDS of children in hospitals have received a little wish. SO thank you for your encouragement . Thank you
for ALWAYS picking up the phone when we nurses called you concerned about your patients and for ALWAYS respecting and valuing our opinion. I could not agree more
with Lily Reidy's post about you (she says it all perfectly). Thank you for helping with my mom during her battle with cancer and for giving us ideas and for telling us that when she
was told she would only have 9 months to live - not to look at that number and to try different things (she lived seven more years). There is something to be said for having hope because without hope every minute, hour or day can seem unbearable, especially in the face of losing a loved one and especially a child. Thank you Dr Wilbur for giving hope to so many families and for the handful of miracles that are still alive today to share their story because you never gave up.

Ribin L

October 5, 2016

Dr. Wilbur will be greatly missed! I survived cancer under the care of Dr. Wilbur. God bless him!

Daniel Wigon

October 5, 2016

My condolences to the family and friends. Dr. Wilbur and the other doctors at MD Anderson & Stanford Children's Hospital saved my life 46 years ago. I was a young teenager with leukemia back then and would see him every few months for a spinal tap. His big smile and soothing words made the procedure bareable. May he continue to heal souls in Heaven!

1952

Rick Bradley

October 5, 2016

My family in Presidio Heights at the Presidio Wall on Pacific Ave. were good friends of the Wilbur family in the 30s, 40s and 50s. The three Wilbur sons, Dwight, Jordan and Greg went to Lowell High School with my brothers and I. Jordan (Dan) was in the Class of 1949 and Greg 1952, while my year was 1951. While my Brothers and I went to Cal the Wilbers went to Stanford.
I still see Greg at the informal twice a year lunches in the Presidio Café with the Class of 1952.
My heart goes out to Greg and the Wilber family for the loss. Jordon was a very special and caring pediatric oncologist.
The photo was taken in 1952, when Jordon was 20 and Greg had just graduated from Lowell.
God Bless You, Rick Bradley

Lily Reidy

October 5, 2016

As an RN I worked with Dr. Wilbur for over 25 years , since the start of my career to his retirement .
To you Dr. Wilbur, Your impact on my me as a nurse and care provider is immeasurable. Your dedication unrivaled. In those years I can honestly say you answered your phone 365 days a year, 24/7. You were not only available to your patients and families needs, but always willing to offer your knowledge and much valued opinion regarding a personal family member or even a personal medical question. It would be impossible to share the stories of all the children and families you provided care to, but what I can say is that ever single one got 200%.
I learned so much from you. Not only did you teach me so much about medicine, but also taught me how to be of service. I'm a better nurse for it.We didn't always see eye to eye, but even in those moments you shined. You always treated nurses and everyone with complete respect and that in turn trickled down to good care. RIP Dr. Wilbur. Thank you for your incredible service. I'm truly honored to have worked with you. Godspeed.