Sid was my uncle, my mother’s “baby brother,” as she proudly and jokingly referred to him. I don’t know another human being who seized and lived life as fully to the end as Sid did. At the age of 87 to be working on an extensive writing project that involved a great deal of interviewing and researching–I find that absolutely remarkable.

Besides his gentle spirit and incredible empathy, what I most remember about Sid was his fantastic sense of humor. He used to tell hilarious anecdotes about his work as a doctor that had us in stitches when our two families got together. One story involved trying to pronounce a patient dead who was inert on the floor. Sid had just had a recurrence of the back problems that plagued him throughout much of his adult life and was wearing a brace. His description of trying to lower himself to the floor while the family was standing around sobbing was truly priceless. I’m not doing justice to the story and can only hope you can imagine how he told it. I will miss him greatly.

Greetings Sid and family,

My parents Bob and Pam Reeves moved to Piedmont Gardens in Oakland in 2001 and easily settled in to the lovely community there. How fortunate for them, and for me, that Sid was one of the first residents they met. I have such fond memories of Sid, always engaging, always upbeat, bubbly, smiling, ready for a full-on genuine hug at any given time. Aside from my own parents, he was my favorite hugger. A man with a huge heart, giant humor, positive critical thinker, kind person, always so eager to be helpful. I always looked forward to the next issue of The Crest, to read Sid’s next ‘tell it like it is’ medical column. It was a treat to be around Sid and Kay together, to see how lovely they cared for each other, to witness their infectious love. As a member of the La Pena Chorus, I’ll miss looking out in the audience and seeing Sid’s radiant smile. But I know I’ll feel his presence there, along with Kay and my parents Bob and Pam, beaming up some good smiles and sparkles and sweetness. I’m glad Sid had a loving, adventurous, fulfilling, long ride, and can now rest. Love, Betsy

Hello Everyone,

This is Stephen Spies, Sid’s grandson. I just wanted to share a recollection of when Sid came to visit me. I’m currently a student at UCLA, and when he came here to visit I took him on a substantial walking tour around campus. At the end of it, we were sitting in his hotel room in a heated discussion on religion and the afterlife, when he pulled up a poem that Kay had written him a few months before her passing. He read it aloud to me, and told me that he hadn’t shown the poem to anyone else. The poem was about how she would wait for Sid, and they would both be together again in the afterlife. When he finished reading the poem, I asked him “So do you believe it?”

He responded “No… but i feel it”. Sid didn’t share her beliefs, but he loved her for the intention behind her beliefs. Can you imagine what kind of wonderful world we’d live in if every world leader shared that quality?

As an agnostic, I can’t know say I know for sure, but I’d like to believe Kay was right, and the two of them are happily sitting together now.

Bob, I loved your dad. We were in the writers’ group with Nancy Boyarsky, Larry Pryor, Leslie Schwartz, Ed Wright, Nadine Leville, and a few others. [Read more…]

Dear Bob,

I am surprised and so sorry to hear of Sid’s passing, but I am also grateful for the reasons you indicate – that he went out while still sharp and able-bodied.

Sid was my mentor during my first three years of UCSF medical school, while I was jointly a graduate student at Berkeley via the Joint Medical Program (JMP). Sid was also a dear friend. [Read more…]