Dr. Hugh L. Wolff died at the age of 91, on December 23, 2022. He was a physician, educator, mentor, civic leader, trusted friend, devoted patriarch of a close-knit family, and loving husband to Sylvia, his wife of 70 years.
His life’s journey began in Cherokee, Iowa in 1931, the child of Meyer and Florence Wolff. He was raised there with his younger sister, Helen and spent summers working in the family business, The Wolff Stores, a clothing store chain in Iowa and Minnesota. He attended the University of Iowa for college and medical school. After meeting in college, Sylvia (née Musin) and he married in 1952. After medical school, they moved to Seattle for his internship and then to Riverside, California where he served as a captain in the Air Force before returning to Iowa City for his urology residency at the University of Iowa. In 1962, they moved their young family to settle in San Antonio, where they enjoyed living for the next 60 years.
He was dedicated to medicine, the practice of urology, education, teaching and mentoring. Combined with his office staff, he provided outstanding care to thousands of patients over the course of his twenty-five-year practice. As a clinical professor at UTHSCSA, he encouraged his students to excel and uphold the highest ethical and moral standards. He loved teaching medical students and residents and was enriched by their many successes. He was honored by the awards he received from the community and UTHSCSA Medical School. His longstanding relationship with the Santa Rosa and Christus Health included his roles as a surgical staff member, Chief of Urology, Chief of Staff, and Vice President of Medical Affairs. In later years, he would reflect that what he loved most about medicine was his doctor-patient relationships.
He was an active member of the San Antonio Jewish community and a civic leader. He was a longtime president of the San Antonio chapter of the American Jewish Committee, a board member of the National Conference for Community and Justice (formerly known as the National Conference of Christians and Jews), and a board member of Temple Beth-El. He maintained longstanding memberships and positions in numerous other Jewish and civic committees and organizations. In 1980 he was awarded the highest honor for physicians, the Maimonides Awards, from State of Israel Bonds.
A true Renaissance man, Hugh enjoyed travel, hobbies, the deep comradery of friendship, and his loving family. His travels included much of the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Israel. Sylvia and he particularly loved Paris, spending long periods of time there in their golden years. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, book collecting, reading, book binding, card games, and writing. He authored a 244-page memoir about his life, dedicated to his wife, and distributed to his family members to share his experiences and wisdom for generations to come. He cherished family gatherings over the years, which included many of life’s milestones: graduations, weddings, B’nai Mitzvot, and most especially, the Wolff family Thanksgivings.
His greatest joy was his family. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Sylvia and their four children Stephanie, Timothy, Amy and Janey and their spouses, Larry, Elissa, Ted and Steve, his eight grandchildren Josh (Natalie) Lindsay (Jason), Michelle, Aaron (Ari), Ethan, Alex, Hallie and Meredith, and five great-grandchildren Max, Ben, Jonah, Jordan and Remy. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Frazin and his nieces and nephews. His children, grandchildren & great- grandchildren delighted in the wisdom he shared of life, his love of books and the game of cribbage.
The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to Dr. Paul Smith, the caregivers from Avionn Home Healthcare, Vitas Hospice San Antonio and Juniper Village for the exceptional and thoughtful end of life care they provided to him.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Temple Beth-El Memorial Park in San Antonio, Texas.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, contributions to Temple Beth El (https://www.beth-elsa.org/donations/) or Christus Santa Rosa Hospital (https://www.friendsfoundation.org/donate/) are welcome.
