Richard J. Haber

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Columbia University University of California San Francisco

Richard Haber Obituary

Richard J. Haber December 8,1944 - June 11, 2007 Richard J. Haber, MD of Lagunitas, CA, a distinguished and beloved faculty member of the UCSF Dept. of Medicine, died after a long and heroic battle with multiple myeloma on Monday, June 11 2007, at the age of 62 with his wife and son at his side. Born in Torrance, CA, and raised in the Bronx, NY, he was the son of the late Dr. Louis and Blanche Haber, educators and tireless champions of peace and civil equality. Rick is survived by his loving wife Jacqueline and his son Lawrence Haber, MD, a resident in internal medicine at UCSF. Rick was educated in New York City; he was a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science ('61), Columbia University ('65), and Cornell Medical College ('69). He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was elected to the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha. He served many roles at San Francisco General Hospital, among them Vice Chief of the Medical Service, Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine, and founding director of the UCSF/SFGH Primary Care Program. He was most proud of his work with students and medical residents, winning over a dozen teaching awards and becoming an incipient member of the Debas Academy of Medical Educators. He will be remembered by all who worked with him as a master clinician, teacher, mentor, and champion of the underserved. He was an inspiration for generations of UCSF trainees and faculty. Inspired by the beauty of nature, he was an avid skier, backpacker, bicyclist, and horseman. He explored miles of trails in Marin, Alaska, the Sierras, the Rockies, and the Appalachians in the company of his family and huskies. He was especially fond of his time spent in Jackson, WY, as a young ski area doctor and continued to patrol with the Squaw Valley National Ski Patrol for many years. Rick was also an accomplished musician and enjoyed playing both piano and guitar with his family and friends. Community oriented, he was active with several San Geronimo Valley community planning organizations. We wish to thank our loving friends and family for their support during this difficult time. We would also like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of UCSF who cared for him with skill and compassion. Contributions in Rick's name may be made to the UCSF Internal Medicine Residency program at SFGH. Please make checks payable to UCSF Foundation, memorial gift for Richard Haber, MD; mail to K. Cooper, UCSF Foundation 44 Montgomery St, Suite 2200, SF, CA 94104. A memorial gathering will be held on June 23, 2007, 3PM at Rick's home in Lagunitas, CA. For further details regarding this gathering and to assist us with your RSVP, please contact 415-279-0325.

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

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jun. 17 to Jun. 18, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Haber

9 Entries

David Sternthal

September 7, 2007

Rick was a classmate at PS 95 and I remember him as a cheerful, thouhtful fellow student. It was a pleasure to see him at our reunion a few years ago and next year's 50th will be a little less for his not being there. We will all miss him and he was one of the people I was hoping to have more time with in 2008.

I am terribly sorry for your (our) loss but Rick certainly left this world a better place for his being here.

I hope we will get a chance to meet in the future. Until then all the best.

David Sternthal

Mary Aull

July 12, 2007

I met Rick in the early 70's when he was working for the CDC in Philly's Health Dept. We worked together and became friends; eventually I got to be friends with Jacqui also and have only met Larry briefly but enjoyed that immensely. Rick was terrific and it is so unfair that his life ended too soon.
My heart goes out to his family and friends and I wish I could have been there to share the comfort of the service. With much love, Mary

Jenny & Pete Groat

June 29, 2007

We knew Rick only as a fellow resident
of San Geronimo Valley, but we loved
him, as all did. We didn't hear of his
passing until too late to attend the
Reception, but we feel his loss deeply.
When Jacqueline told us, his vivid
personality immediately flooded out
memories. We had always wished we
could have been closer friends, but
we loved just knowing he was there.
We'll miss him greatly. We think
he might have enjoyed Jenny's poem:

THE STARS ARE HISTORY
The stars are history.
They contain it all.
To think of them for long takes
nerve,
but not to think of them at all
is like ignoring swarms of ghosts
around your head:
You can try.

We know that some have died,
the burning suns consumed
and dark with only pulsing cries
to grave-mark space. Yet every night
their streaking javelins of light
ignite and pierce
our tiny time.

For us the cosmic chaos
is violent and careless.
But SOMETHING in the universe
is unafraid of death, as if
it were not real. Earth slides,
oceans rise, sparrows fall.

The mathematics of the
double-helixed flower,
seashell, seed and heartbeat order
even chaos, leaving still
a SOURCE that started star and leaf
and gifted us
with consciousness.

O HOLY FLICKER!
How do we know that we are alive
at all?
CHANGE is not the same as death.
TURN, TURN, TURN OVER, TRANSFORM!
You are a world breathing in a rock.
I am a feathered sun in borrowed
earth,
and THOUGHT, like star lights,
Startles the receiving mind.

I take refuge in my garden,
scattering seed
to the sparrows,
who KNOW.
There is nothing more important.
(Jenny Hunter Groat @1997)

We'll miss Rick, wherever he is.

Judith Wofsy

June 25, 2007

The Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency program at Highland Hospital in Oakland remembers with gratitude the help and support that Rick provided as we developed and opened our program nearly 25 years ago. We owe a great deal to his generosity of spirit and willingness to share his experience. We remember and appreciate his warmth and humor.
Our thoughts are with his family.

Kathleen Brandin

June 21, 2007

There could only be one Rick & a happy & lucky day it was when he met our Jacqueline!

He was a modest man, so much so, that I didn't know the extent of all his accomplishments & honors until I read his obit.

The Rick my family knew was a warm, down to earth person who cared & helped us all he could with unfailing patience, loyalty, and most of all kindness.

He was able to extend my father's life at least another two years & gave my mother comfort & confidence knowing "my nephew Rick will take good care of me" as she reached the age of 90. Uncle Buzz and Auntie Kay thank you.

As for Les and myself, thank you for my great birthday party -60- & for you again putting yourself out when I almost put my eye out & for bringing us to Dr. Ken Hammerman, another wonderful doctor.

When we visited you in the hospital Rick, you said you wanted a party when you got out. You still maintained your great sense of humor. It's hard to believe such a giant of a man was cut down all to soon, but he gave a hell of a fight, a testamnet to his love for his wife & son & a life well spent in the service of others.

We will miss you Rick, but you'll always be part of the party whenever people who love you so much gather.

Rest in peace Rick

Cousins Kathy & Les

Jane E Koehler

June 20, 2007

Rick was an inspirational role model and teacher for UCSF Medicine trainees and young faculty. His integrity and genuine concern for the well being of all people seeking care at SFGH was unsurpassed. Rick will be missed, but his positive influence on so many students and residents will continue in his absence.

Jane Perlas

June 18, 2007

Dr. Rick Haber was instrumental and supportive during the inception of the Nurse Practitioner role in the Department of Medicine at SFGH. He helped develop the role, as well as provided leadership. He will forever be remembered for his patience, understanding and collegiality that he provided during this period. Rick will be missed for his generosity in sharing his wealth of knowledge to all students, whether it is in medicine or in nursing. Thank you, Rick for the opportunity to be able to learn from you.
Respectfully, Jane M. Perlas, NP-C

John Mills

June 18, 2007

Rick was an outstanding person in every respect, personal and professional, and his passing is a great loss to the San Francisco and US medical communities. I spent many happy hours with him during my time at SFGH, and will miss him greatly.

Dr. Melissa Welch Barker

June 18, 2007

Rick will be remembered as an inspiring teacher, colleague and friend to all residents; he will surely be missed. Best regards and fondest wishes to the Haber family.

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