68 | APRIL 4 • 2024 
J
N

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

J

oel Alan Hershman, A 
native Detroiter, died 
peacefully in his San 
Diego home on Feb. 12, 2024, at 
the age of 72; his wife of 48 years 
and his three children were by 
his side.
Joel was born on May 21, 
1951, in Detroit to Edith 
Hershman Levin and David 
Hershman. He graduated from 
the University of Michigan in 
1973 and from U-M Medical 
School in1977. He married 
Debra Hershman in 1975 after 
meeting her at U-M (later to 
find out they lived just a few 
blocks away growing up). 
After doing his residency at 
UCLA, he started his successful 
career in San Diego, Calif., in 
1982 at Kaiser Permanente in 
Dermatology. 
Joel was passionate about 

pickleball, play-
ing every day; he 
also was a great 
coach and licensed 
instructor who 
picked up the 
sport in 2018. He 
loved sports and 
loved coaching his sons when 
they were younger. He had 
great patience and knew how 
to encourage any athlete. He 
shared the love of the game with 
son Brian. Brian began to play 
because of Joel’s influence and 
Joel could not have been happier 
when after a few years Brian 
surpassed him in pickleball 
accomplishments and expertise. 
Nothing made him prouder than 
being coached by his son who 
was inspired to become a coach. 
Joel loved photography of 
sports and nature. As a golfer, 

he hit a hole-in-one on the 8th 
hole of the Rancho Bernardo 
Country Club and shared his 
love of golf with his youngest 
son, Brett, a scratch golfer. 
In his last months and year, he 
got to see U-M win the College 
Football Playoff National 
Championship and San Diego 
State University, where he was 
a season ticket holder of 25+ 
years, go to the Men’s Basketball 
Final Four.
Joel was as a husband, father, 
grandfather, brother, physician 
and well-loved member of the 
community. He was a great 
friend, a great listener, a person 
of warmth, compassion and 
empathy. He always thought 
of other people before himself. 
As a doctor, coach and men-
tor, he touched thousands of 
lives. Being in his presence and 

knowing him always made a 
person feel warm, understood 
and listened to. He is leaving 
a huge void in the lives of so 
many people who were lucky 
to know his remarkable spirit 
filled with kindness, passion and 
great intellect. He was a unique 
human being.
Joel is survived by his wife, 
Debra Lakin Hershman; 
his children, Kate (Jason) 
Feuerberg, Brian Hershman and 
Brett Hershman. Joel was the 
proud “Papa” of two beautiful 
granddaughters who adored 
him, Riley and Olivia Feuerberg. 
He spent many happy moments 
watching their musical theater 
talents. Joel was also survived 
by his siblings, Susan and Burt 
Ellis, Judy and David Hinds, and 
Deborah Schoenbaum; as well 
as many close lifelong friends, 
including Owen Perlman and 
Stuart Sakwa. 

An Inspiration to Many

Joel 
Hershman

