Lawrence Margolis

1938 - 2025

Lawrence Margolis
08/26/1938 - 07/11/2025
Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Margolis died on July 11th at his home in Hillsborough. Larry was 86.
Larry spent 43 years working in medicine as a radiation oncologist, professor, and vice chair of the department of radiation oncology at the University of California San Francisco. He specialized in radiation treatment for breast and skin cancers.
Larry is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 54 years; two children, Michelle Ebersman (David) of Charlotte, N.C., and Jason Margolis (Amy) of Newton, Mass.; and four grandchildren Max, Theo, Charley, Haley, and the late Samuel Ebersman.
Larry was born in 1938, in Milwaukee, Wis., during the end of the Great Depression. He was born and raised Jewish in a loving home by his parents Ben and Jen, an immigrant from Ukraine, along with his older brother Marvin.
Larry attended his beloved University of Wisconsin for both college and medical school. After his studies, he headed west to San Francisco for a residency at UCSF and never left the Bay Area.
Dr. Margolis loved the medical profession, both helping his patients and teaching young residents. At UCSF, residents selected him four consecutive years as "teacher of the year." Upon his retirement in 2007, the teaching award for radiation oncology was renamed the "Lawrence W. Margolis Excellence in Teaching Award." Dr. Margolis was honored as one of the best doctors in America on four occasions and was repeatedly listed as a top doctor in the Bay Area. He traveled the world with his wife, Barbara, giving lectures on skin and breast cancer including speaking engagements in Honolulu, Chicago, Washington D.C., Portugal, Sydney, Montreal, and San Francisco to name a few locations. He also wrote many chapters in text books.
Larry was a huge baseball fan. His first love was the 1950's Brooklyn Dodgers, but he gradually shifted allegiances to the San Francisco Giants. He also was a devoted 49er faithful.
After retiring from medicine, Larry focused his time on family, running a regular carpool and attending his grandkids' sporting events. He also took many vacations with Barbara to visit his son, Jason, and his family in Boston. On his 70th birthday, Larry caught a ball on top of Fenway Park's Green Monster.
Larry died from complications of the neurological disorder multiple system atrophy (MSA), an incurable disease he battled during the last years of his life.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 16th at 11 a.m. at Skylawn Memorial Park. Contributions may be made in memory of Lawrence to The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, The American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice.