David Goldblatt
Goldblatt, Dr. David
Penn Yan, NY: David Goldblatt, MD, died at home Saturday, September 1, 2007, at the age of 77. Born 3/24/30 in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Goldblatt was Professor Emeritus of Neurology and the Medical Humanities at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He received his MD degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1955. After his medical internship and neurology residency, he went on active duty with the US Naval Reserve and became Chief of the Neurology Branch at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. After spending three years in research at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, he joined the University of Rochester faculty in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Neurology in 1978. His appointment as Professor of the Medical Humanities came in 1991. Dr. Goldblatt's clinical practice involved all aspects of neurology. His special interests were amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig's disease) and traumatic brain injury. He established and directed a clinic at Strong Memorial Hospital for patients with ALS. He chaired the Clinical Advisory Committee of the ALS Society of America. From 1986 to 1993, while continuing his academic work, he was Medical Director at Neurorehab Associates, an outpatient facility in Rochester for rehabilitation of adults with traumatic brain injury, back and neck problems, and other neurologic disorders. He served as an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He was a reviewer for several major professional journals and was Associate Editor of Archives of Neurology and Editor in Chief of Seminars in Neurology. He edited a feature that he created for Neurology called Nisus: Neurology and the Humanities.
Dr. Goldblatt had a special interest in clinical ethics that continued in retirement. He studied bioethics at Georgetown University. He chaired the Patient Care Ethics Committee at Strong Memorial Hospital and was a member of the Ethics Consultation Service. For seven years, he served as a member of the Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee of the American Academy of Neurology. He and his wife, Ann Weiss, were community members of the ethics committee of Soldiers & Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan, NY, which he eventually also chaired.
Dr. Goldblatt published more than 100 articles and abstracts in medical and scientific journals and books. His interest in literature and writing continued to the end. His own nonmedical work included essays, stories, and poems, many of which were published.
Known usually as "Doc" to his teammates, he was an avid slo-pitch softball player. He was player manager of the Rochs in the Rochester area for over thirty years. He also played with and managed a team in Penn Yan for several years, including the 2006 season. He was an amateur potter, photographer, and carpenter.
Dr. Goldblatt was the son of Harry Goldblatt, MD, and Jeanne (Rea) Goldblatt. He is survived by his wife Ann Weiss, his brother Peter J. Goldblatt, MD, and sons, David J., Robert H., and John P. Goldblatt, MD. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Dallan, Justine, and Taylor. His wife of 33 years, Sally Anne (Clary) Goldblatt preceded him in death in 1995.
A local remembrance will be held on Saturday, 9/15/07. Friends may stop by from 2-4 PM at the Penn Yan United Methodist Church Memorial Building, 166 Main St, Penn Yan, NY 14527. A memorial service will be held at the URMC upper S-wing auditorium on Saturday, 10/6/07 at 2PM. In the meantime, friends and family may sign the guestbook at www.townsendwoodfuneralchapel.com .
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Association, Upstate New York Chapter, PO Box 127, Elbridge, NY 13060 or at www.alsa.org. Arrangements are with Townsend-Wood Funeral Chapel, 201 East Elm St., Penn Yan, NY 14527 (315) 536-3391.
Published in the Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on 9/9/2007.