Philip S. Littman M.D.

1941 - 2016

Philip S Littman, M.D.

New York, NY

Dr. Philip Littman, a retired radiation oncologist, passed away peacefully at home on March 16, 2016, from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. An only child, Phil was born in 1941 to Esther and Louis Littman in Baltimore, MD. He attended Baltimore City College for high school and graduated from Stanford University in 1962. He was in one of the first classes of Peace Corps volunteers, serving as a science and English teacher from 1962-1964 in Ethiopia/Eritrea, to which he returned in 2012 for his 50th reunion. Upon returning to the States, Phil attended University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, graduating in 1968. He also served the country through the U.S. Public Health Service from 1968 through 1971. Phil did his postgraduate radiation oncology training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Radiology. After a long academic career at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and then Brown University School of Medicine as a professor of radiation therapy, Phil opened and served as the primary physician at the Southern Wisconsin Radiotherapy Center in Madison, WI, in 1987.

Following his retirement in 2003 and move to Stuart, FL, Phil worked as a locum tenens radiation oncology physician in various states. He and his wife of 48 years, Trish Littman, spent several years sailing around the Bahamas and Caribbean. Ever the adventurer, Phil also sailed across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

A consummate and energetic learner, Phil re-trained himself at the age of 70 to be a general practitioner so he could volunteer as a physician at Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in Stuart, FL, where he worked regularly until ALS-related symptoms forced him physically to retire. He remained engaged in medical literature until his final days.

Phil is survived by his wife of 48 years, Trish Littman; his daughter, Rachel Littman of Providence, RI, her husband, Doug Davis, their two children, Adam Littman Davis (13) and Amanda Littman Davis (11); and son, Josh Littman of London, UK, his wife, Natalia Littman, and their two children, Levi Orion Littman (5) and Savannah Arial Littman (8 months).

Guest book and other information will be available at www.riversidememorialchapel.com. Donations may be made to Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Stuart, FL (vimclinic.net), MJHS Hospice Foundation (mjhsfoundation.org/donate/hospice-and-palliative-care-fund), and The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter (www.als-ny.org).