Bernard DeHovitz

Bernard DeHovitz

Bernard DeHovitz, February 11, 2020.

Bernard DeHovitz passed away in San Francisco on February 11, 2020 at the age of 95. 

Bernard was born in Flat River, Mo., on March 6, 1924. Bernard was the middle child of three. He was predeceased by his brother, Melvin, and his sister, Doris Page. He learned about generosity from his parents as they would offer extended credit to customers in their small-town store during the Depression. He graduated from Flat River High School in 1942.

In 1944 he started medical school at LSU in New Orleans through the Navy’s V-12 Program and graduated in 1948. During his residency at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis he met Ruth Senturia. Their marriage lasted nearly 70 years, and Ruth was his constant partner, companion and advisor.

Bernard was called up to Camp Pendleton in California to serve out his obligation to the Navy. Upon discharge, he returned to St. Louis to start practicing medicine. Over the next 17 years he ran his own practice in Internal Medicine in the St. Louis area, but he kept hoping to return to California. By the late 1960s, Bernie moved with Ruth and their four children to the San Francisco Bay Area. 

He became Medical Director at the Kaiser Center in Oakland where he worked for fifteen years. He retired in the mid 1980s. He was very proud that his three sons followed him into medicine.

In his retirement, he cultivated his appreciation of art deco design, modern art, and mid century modern furniture. He also directed the creation of the Lead Belt Jewish Oral History Project; a book of remembrances of former members of the now long-gone Jewish Community in the Flat River (now Park Hills), Missouri area. The book has been welcomed by local libraries.

Bernard will be remembered by his children as the essence of support and affection. He would always offer advice and wisdom laced with experience of his almost 96 years. He derived great joy from the achievements of his eleven grandchildren. He also was a loving and devoted husband to Ruth and a caring friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his four children, Jack (Lisa Goldfarb), Dan (Vivian Kim), Ross (Ann), and Joan (Aaron Braun) and his eleven grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

Donations can be made to the DeHovitz-Senturia Campership fund of Jewish Family and Children Services in San Francisco.