Edwin Feldman Obituary

Feldman MD, Edwin Edwin Feldman, 91, died October 6, 2016, in Palm Beach, Florida, with his loving wife Marietta (nee Kuchuris) at his side. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sophia (Dussias); son, Paul; parents, Henry and Sarah; and his sister, Corinne "Corky" Primack. In addition to Marietta, he is survived by his cherished family: son, Michael (Wanda) and grandchildren, Sarah and Christopher; daughter-in-law, Marilee (Mrs. Paul), and grandchildren, Aaron and Callie; as well as stepdaughters, Trina McRae (Jamie) and son, Will; and Frances Carini (Danny), and their children, Maria and Chris. He also leaves many longtime friends, colleagues, and fond patients, from his over fifty years of association and leadership at Advocate-Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Born in Chicago on November 29, 1924, he attended Manley High School, and received his Bachelor of Medicine and MD degrees from Chicago Medical School. He served his internship at Riverside Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, did residencies in Pathology and Internal Medicine at Illinois Masonic, and was a Fellow in Cardiology at Oak Forest Hospital. During the Korean War, he received a Bronze Star as a Captain and chief of triage in the 8063rd MASH (companion unit to the 4077th MASH depicted on the television show). After a year in Korea, he served in Japan, and then returned to Chicago, where he forged a lifelong professional and personal relationship with Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Dr. Feldman was a visionary well aware of the scope and kinds of changes that would sweep health care during the following 40 years. Under his leadership, Illinois Masonic established many ground-breaking services, including the Midwest's first Alternative Birthing Unit, the first full-scale in- and out-patient hospice program, and advanced programs in cardiac surgery, Women's Health, Cancer Care, and ophthalmology. He was instrumental in establishing the hospital's status as a Regional Trauma Center, and in pioneering its ground-breaking HIV/AIDS program. He was clear about crediting the role of others in bringing these programs into being. "The secret," he often said, "is to work with physicians who are absolutely committed to a new program, and support that commitment. I always tried to recruit people who were smarter than I was and then get out of their way!" During the 1970's and early 80's, he served as team physician to the Chicago White Sox. He spent several weeks each year in Sarasota, screening players during spring training. He also arranged medical coverage for White Sox home games, and cared for many of the players, managers, and their families. During that era, Illinois Masonic also served as the medical home of both the Chicago Bears and the Blackhawks. In addition to clinical medicine, Dr. Feldman was committed to the training of the next generation of young physicians, and fought to grow and maintain residency programs in a dozen disciplines. He strengthened academic programs at the hospital, and fostered student and resident programs with the University of Illinois, Rush University, and Chicago Medical School. He held the rank of Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois. In 1978, he was named Medical Director of the hospital, and continued as its Chief Medical Officer until his retirement, when he joined the hospital's Board of Trustees, and became a member of the hospital's Charitable Council. A 33rd degree Mason, he worked with Masonic Lodges of Illinois to establish the Masonic Family Health Foundation, and continued as a member of the Board of the Advocate Charitable Foundation after the hospital joined the Advocate network in 2001. In recent years, he and his wife established the Edwin and Marietta Kuchuris Feldman Endowment for Children with Special Needs. He was a constant and eclectic reader, and loved words and their history. He was consistent in his hard work, decency, sense of humor, and intellectual curiosity. He found joy in his profession, his family, and his friendships, and had the resilience to withstand the inevitable losses and challenges of his long life with grace and integrity. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Feldman Endowment for Children with Special Needs, at Advocate-Illinois Masonic Medical Center. QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL, CREMATION & EVENT CENTER at HILLCREST, (561)833-4061, is in charge of arrangements.