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They Broke The Mold!
Remembering beloved local physician and donor Dr. Jules Jaffe
“He spent his life devoted to caring for people with cancer, and his legacy continues on. His endowment will continue to support what he cared so deeply about.”
Julius “Jules” Jaffe, M.D., brought passion and intensity to everything he did, from caring for patients to his athletic pursuits and lifelong photography hobby. Known for his extraordinary bedside manner, he had a mischievous side that kept his colleagues and family laughing.
“His concern for his patients was paramount to what he did,” shares daughter Jennifer Jaffe. “I know he would struggle sometimes because he couldn’t save everybody. That’s what made him so impactful. He really cared.”
A prankster at heart, Dr. Jaffe was legendary for his sense of humor. “Dad was a practical joker,” laughs Jennifer. “He was always pranking his staff. The more he joked with you, the more he liked you.”
An avid runner and cycler, Dr. Jaffe loved participating in marathons and bike races. “He traveled to Greece to run a marathon, and while he was there, he got into a car accident and injured his ribs and shoulder,” marvels Jennifer. “Still determined to do the run, he left the hospital and completed nine miles of the marathon before he had to stop for pain.”
Dr. Jaffe came to Santa Rosa in 1971 as the first hematologist/oncologist in Sonoma County. In 1973, he co-founded the Hematology Oncology Group with Harry Richardson, M.D. The group eventually merged with Redwood Regional Medical Group.
He practiced for nearly 50 years, retiring in 2016. “He was an interesting and unique person,” says Dr. Richardson. “He loved his patients and the people he worked with. He was a force in the community and the first real cancer doc that came to Santa Rosa.”
Before he passed away, Dr. Jaffe created an endowment to Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to benefit patients with cancer. “He spent his life devoted to caring for people with cancer, and his legacy continues on. His endowment will continue to support what he cared so deeply about,” says Dr. Richardson.
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