Ronald Goldschmidt Obituary

Ronald Goldschmidt
11/22/1943 - 07/22/2024
Ronald H. Goldschmidt, of San Mateo, California, passed away on July 22, 2024, at the age of 80.
Ron was born on November 22, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to parents Lester and Margo Goldschmidt (nee Bachenheimer). His spirit is carried on by his wife, Catherine; his two sons Daniel (Amy) and Joel (Angela); grandchildren Megan and Jonah; sister Linda (Sanford) Ehrenreich of Pittsburgh, PA.
He graduated from Northwestern University in Political Science and never lost his interest in national and international politics. His career as a doctor began at University of Wisconsin Medical School, graduating in 1970. He relocated to San Francisco where he began his 50-year professional career at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital. His professional accomplishments were varied but working with the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the very first days to the success in recent years, and for establishing the Family Practice Inpatient Service at SFGH were his most significant. His greatest love was working as an attending physician, teaching the Residents, and passing along his blend of medical knowledge and compassion.
Outside the hospital, he enjoyed spending time with his family, playing jazz piano, refereeing soccer games, working in the garden, and watching every Warriors' game. While his professional accomplishments are numerous, he always said he was most proud of his wonderful family, watching his kids and grandkids grow up, while building a wonderful life and home with Cathy.
While he will be missed, his legacy, teachings and impact will carry on forever. In his notes, his family found the following message about his mortality: I've had a full life, the regrets of all the things I have yet to do will simply have to be done by others. Let's go on now and miss each other and continue to love each other.'
Services were held July 25, 2024, at Peninsula Temple Beth El, with interment at Skylawn Cemetery.
Anyone wishing to honor Ron's life work and sustain his legacy, Ron's family suggests a gift in Ron's name to the UCSF Department of Family and Community Medicine at San Francisco General Hospital. Information for directing donations online or by mail may be found at https://fcm.ucsf.edu/support-us. Please be sure to indicate on the donation form (and on your check if donating by mail) that your gift is in honor of Dr. Ronald Goldschmidt and should be directed to "UCSF Dept FCM at SFGH Fund Code B0296."

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jul. 26 to Jul. 29, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Ronald Goldschmidt

9 Entries

Kristin Butler

October 23, 2024

I am truly saddened to learn of Ron's passing. I was fortunate enough to have been a caretaker for the Goldschmidt children years ago. Dr. Goldschmidt was a truly remarkable man - kind, caring, compassionate, funny, brilliant. My thoughts are with Cathy, the children, and their families.

Esther Nnadi

August 20, 2024

I am saddened to hear of your passing my heart breaks when I heard that you passed away. I emailed you not long ago and you replied to me letting me know that you had a guest at your house. That´s why you didn´t check your emails sooner you are such a great friend to me. You are my doctor for over 10 years, you are such a great friend to me after you retired my son and I will miss you so much . We will love you forever or we never forget you. You are one of the kind and thank you for being in our life.Esther and Onyemaechi Nnadi

Cliff Morrison

August 13, 2024

Many years working with Ron at San Francisco General Hospital. He was always so kind and professional and I really liked working with him a lot. I am so sorry and sent my thoughts to his family.

Tami Needham

August 7, 2024

I met Ron in the early 1970's through my close friendship with his sister-in-law Claire Wilson. I knew him primarily outside of his medical practice and one of my fondest memories is what a treat it was to get Ron to sit down at the piano. As a jazz lover I was immediately taken by his skills as a jazz pianist, and no wonder, I soon learned that he had studied under one of the greats, Oscar Peterson. Ron was never one to exploit his musical talent and the few times I was privileged to hear him I was always left wanting more.

I also coveted the immaculate landscaping of the house he and Cathy had in San Mateo. One day I was delighted to get a tour of the garden, and remember how exotic the variety of plants thriving in their yard was to me. I grew up in hot Southern California so plants like Bells of Ireland were something I´d never seen before. Over the years when I would see him and Cathy at Claire´s annual Christmas party, he was always so cordial and generous when I asked him to catch me up on what the boys were up to. A gentleman with a vast array of talents and passions.

Jacquelyn Paull

August 7, 2024

Last night I absently picked up the paper and opened the obituary page. It brought back the last days my partner of 40 years, John was in the hospital. His wonderful doctor Dr. Ronald Goldschmidt had died. He had been such a pillar of strength for me during John's illness and decision for comfort care. He even came to shepherd me through the end of John's life after he had retired. He was a gregarious and ebullient man. He had an extensive career treating AIDS and teaching new prospective doctors among his many, many accomplishments (including being a jazz pianist). I am sad for his family, which includes the teams he taught. Sail on Dr. Goldschmidt. You have enriched all our lives.

Maria Chavez-Lagasca

August 1, 2024

Rest in peace, Dr. Ron, and I am praying for comfort to the whole family. I worked with Dr. Ron at the Family Health Center in ZSFGH and as my attending MD in the inpatient Family Practice Inpatient Service Beautiful Soul gained by heaven Farewell Dr. Ron

Sheila Hawthorne

August 1, 2024

Hard to forget. He definitely was a pioneer and stayed the course. I will remember our Family Health Center days.

Sheila Hawthorne
Retired Nurse Manager Family Health Center and Adult Urgent Care

Happy Reynolds

August 1, 2024

Ron was my attending when we had a sudden death in the ER due to AIDS complications- this was in the 2000´s when that wasn´t common.
He knew what it was, and shared with myself (an intern at the time) and my resident what it was like at the the general during the height of that epidemic. I never forgot that.
I thought of him often during Covid when I was in the Covid clinic and how I now understood what he shared then, now an attending myself and facing an unknown and deadly pandemic.
I used what he taught me and often thought about how we never asked what toll that must have taken.
There is a belief in Buddist practice of a continuation body and I am so grateful to be a part of Ron´s - all of us who learned from him and all the people he touched are too. Thank you for sharing your beloved with us. May your suffering bring transformation

Rachel Abdel, RN

July 26, 2024

I am so grateful to have worked with Dr. Goldschmidt at Family Health Center. He was so smart, caring and humble. His patients loved him and he was so supportive towards the nurses. I will never forgot when I called his cell number for a pt´s med refills and he picked up his phone, while he was on vacation in France What a blessing it was to have known him and worked with him. He will be truly missed. RIP Dr. Goldschmidt He made this world a better place and saved so many lives and always kept himself so grounded!

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