Dr. Sidney Saperstein

1923 - 2016

Dr. Sidney Saperstein

April 2, 1923 – May 15, 2016

Dr. Sidney Saperstein was known internationally for his work on milk allergy in infants and children; he designed nutritional formulas that were used as substitutes for milk. He authored more than 30 articles in scientific publications, had three U.S patents; and spoke at International scientific and medical meetings.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York where he spent his early school years until military service in the U.S. Army during WWII. He served in Okinawa as a medical surgical technician and later in Korea to set up a communications center.

Dr. Saperstein married Irene Pearl of Brooklyn, New York in 1947 and they had three children: Susan, Karen, and Mark. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Brooklyn College.

The couple moved west as he attended the University of Illinois, then University of California at Los Angeles, and finally UC Davis. He joined the biochemical research group of the Borden Company in New York City and relocated to Elgin, Illinois. He was Director of Research for the Pharmaceutical Division until moving to Syntex Laboratories in Palo Alto, California; and eventually rose to the position of Associate Director of Scientific Affairs where he directed research studies and clinical trials on drugs.

As an amateur radio operator (W6HFJ), Dr. Saperstein served as a member of the Palo Alto, California Red Cross Disaster Services team. He assisted in communications during the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. He was also an avid bicyclist.

Dr. Saperstein moved to Marina del Rey, California when Irene died in 2000, and returned to the San Francisco Bay area in 2011. His daughter Karen predeceased him in 2006. He is survived by his daughter Susan, his son Mark, and his granddaughter Gabrielle Lewis.