Obituaries

Obituaries from page C77

T

he San Francisco Bay Area lost a
renowned visionary thinker and
educator when Leonard Shlain,
best-selling author and surgeon, died May
11, 2009, at his home in Mill Valley after a
battle with brain cancer. He was 71.
Leonard Michael Shlain was born on
Aug. 28, 1937, in Detroit. He graduated
Central High School at age 15, attended
University of Michigan and then graduat-
ed Wayne State University Medical School
at age 23, where he was recently honored
as the alumnus of the year.
Admired among artists, scientists,
philosophers, anthropologists and educa-
tors, Dr. Shlain authored three best-sell-
ing books: Art & Physics, Alphabet vs. the
Goddess and Sex, Time, and Power.
His fans include Al Gore, Norman
Lear and singer Bjork, who credited Dr.
Shlain's Alphabet vs. the Goddess with
inspiring her recent album Wanderlust.
His fourth book, Leonardo's Brain about
Leonardo DaVinci will be published next

ki

spring by Viking.
excitedly diagram his operation
Dr. Shlain was a surgeon for
of the day on a napkin. Later,
38 years at California Pacific
his diagrams became more
Medical Center where he headed
adventuresome and expanded
the Laparoscopic Surgery
to thought experiments that
Department and an associate
included what it would be like
clinical professor of medicine
to sit astride a beam of light
at University of California-San
and how that corresponded
Francisco.
with Picasso's rose period, blue
Dr. Leon and
Dr. Shlain was a loving and
period. This eventually led him
Shlain
generous man with a larger-
to write his first book, Art and
than-life intellect and a prodi-
Physics.
gious curiosity. He was a widely respected
After graduating medical school, Dr.
surgeon and attentive father and hus-
Shlain served as a captain in the Army,
band. He had an encyclopedic knowledge
stationed in France. He later interned
that he wove with highly creative insights
at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco,
in his books and presentations. A vora-
began his surgical residency at Bellevue
cious reader, he took pride in finding
Hospital in New York and then completed
the perfect metaphor and delighted in
it at California Pacific Medical Center in
making connections between everything
San Francisco, where he set up his gen-
from art, physics, to human evolution and eral surgical practice in 1969.
sexuality.
Dr. Shlain was an early pioneer of
When he came home after a hard
gallbladder and hernia laparoscopic
day's work as a young surgeon, he would
surgery, and, in 1990, was one of the first

astin

California surgeons to use the technique.
He was flown around the world to train
doctors, patented several surgical instru-
ments and pioneered new techniques for
gallbladder and hernia operations.
Leonard Shlain is survived by his
wife, Judge Ina Gyemant; children, artist
Kimberly Brooks, filmmaker and Webby
Awards founder Tiffany Shlain and doc-
tor-entrepreneur Jordan Shlain. He was
also father in-law to filmmaker Albert
Brooks, scientist-artist Ken Goldberg,
Ph.D., and Caroline Eggli, Ph.D., respec-
tively. He had two stepchildren, attorney
Anne Gyemant Paris and writer Roberto
Gyemant Jr. His son-in-law Michael Paris
is a medical engineer.
He was predeceased by his sister
Shirley Wollock and survived by siblings,
Marvin Shlain and Sylvia Goldstick, as
well as grandchildren, Shawn, Jacob,
Claire, Odessa, Amber, Sophia, Elena,
Daphne, Arthur and a new grandchild
due May 28. Ili

emory.

At The Ira Kaufman ape
we help your family with the
final tribute of those you love

National Council of Jewish Women - Greater Detroit Section
Presents "Floats, Food & Fun"
6:30-9:00 pm, Thurs, June 11, 2009
The Parade Company
9500 Mt. Elliott, Studio A, Detroit

Event celebrating 75 years of Council Thrift Shops is a fundraiser
for Council's many local community service projects.

Evening includes opportunity for an inside look at
floats from Detroit's Thanksgiving Parade.
Enjoy music from Star Trax and "Detroit Delights" from
local chefs and caterers.

Enter raffle to win one of six fabulous packages.

Tickets: $75 or $125/person.
Bus transportation from Southfield available for $10.

For tickets and more information, call (248) 355-3300 Ext. 0

1317910

THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL

Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community

1 48

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May 21 2009

18325 West Nine Mile Road. Southfield. Nil 48075
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