Dr. Moses Grossman
October 14, 1921 - January 27, 2018
The world lost an extraordinary human being when Dr. Moses Grossman, Misha, passed away this week. Born in Kiev to Gregory and Klara Grossman, Misha and his parents fled the persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union and took refuge in Harbin, China. He then left his parents and brother Lusia in 1941, to immigrate to the United States and attend UC Berkeley, along with his cousin and best friend Gregory Grossman. After UC Berkeley, Misha went to UCSF for medical school under the U.S. Army’s Berry Plan, the first non-citizen to do so. Under the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Mary Olney, he decided to do his internship in pediatrics at UCSF. He then served with the US Army for two years, after which he entered residency at NYU Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
He met Verle Anne Campbell, the love of his life, as a nurse on the Bellevue pediatric ward and enticed her to move to San Francisco, marry, and raise a family. He thrived at UCSF for the whole of his career, serving as a faculty member in the UCSF Department of Pediatrics. He held many leadership positions in the department and in the School of Medicine, including Professor and Chief of Pediatrics for 30 years at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), Vice-Chair and Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases for UCSF Department of Pediatrics, and Associate Dean for the UCSF School of Medicine. As Chief of Pediatrics for SFGH, he oversaw the clinical care of the city’s most vulnerable children and trained generations of pediatric residents and future pediatric leaders. He and Verle embraced his colleagues and trainees as family and graciously welcomed them into their home on a regular basis. Of his many roles, he was proudest of his work as a healer, teacher and mentor.
Misha also was a passionate advocate for the wellbeing of children in the Bay Area and California. He was the founder of the San Francisco Child Abuse Council and the first Chair of The California AIDS Leadership Committee on Pediatric and Perinatal AIDS. He was also the co-founder of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. For his service to the community and UCSF, he received the UCSF Medal in 2001.
Misha cherished his large and loving family. His home was a haven for children and grandchildren alike, and he delighted in telling stories of his early days in China. He and Verle traveled the world and explored San Francisco’s finest restaurants. When Verle developed Alzheimer’s Disease, he became an extraordinary caregiver. He loved to read and at the age of 94, he started a book club that met at his home.
The family would like to thank his caregivers for all they did to keep Misha comfortable at home. We also thank his many dear friends, who nurtured and loved him in myriad ways. We deeply appreciate his geriatric care provided by The UCSF Care at Home’s Housecalls Program.
Misha is survived by his beloved children and their spouses: Deborah Grossman Garber & Jonathan Garber; Pam Grossman & David Kahn; David Grossman & Cezanne Garcia; and Danny Grossman & Linda Gerard; and by his devoted grandchildren and their partners: Ben & Rachel, Ilana & Olivia, Rebecca & Sam, Miriam, Rachel, Naomi, Sarah, Noah, and Jonah.
Misha’s legacy will live on through the children he helped, the medical students he taught, the residents he trained, the policies and institutions he created, and most of all, in the memories of all who loved him.
Memorial donations may be made to The Moses and Verle Grossman Fund for Children’s Health at San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, PO Box 410836, San Francisco, CA 94141. www.sfghf.org/ donate.