Julian Eligator
August 18, 2016

Julian Eligator MD died on August 18th at the Smilow Cancer Hospital of Yale New Haven Hospital. For 35 years, Dr. Eligator was an internist, and later medical director, of the Russelton Medical Group, and the HMO of Western Pennsylvania, an early HMO. The group originally provided medical care for coal miners and their families at the Miners' Clinic in New Kensington and satellite offices. He was devoted to his colleagues and staff.  A native of New England, he grew up in Portland, Connecticut, and attended public schools there, where he played saxophone in the band and developed a love of tennis and basketball. He attended Tufts College and Tufts Medical School and specialised in internal medicine. He later served as a captain and physician in the US Air Force in Eastern France from 1961 to 1964 at Toul-Rosieres Air Base.  He was the son of Emma and Emil Eligator and the brother of Leona Levy (Jerome) of San Diego. Julian is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rhoda, and by his three children and seven grandchildren. They are: Edith Eligator (Robert Sansom) of Cambridge, England; Nancy Eligator, M.D., of Pittsburgh; and David Eligator (Margherita) of Burlingame, California.  His grandchildren are: Philip, Cole, and Emma Sansom; Joshua and Alison Pirl; and Adam and Benjamin Eligator. He was very close and devoted to his children and grandchildren.  He had a deep abiding social compass and concern for social justice. He was active in Physicians for Social Responsibility, and also International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. He read widely about history and politics. He volunteered at a food bank, and canvassed his neighbourhood to help 'get out the vote'. He was an involved citizen.  Since retirement, Julian has been active at Osher at CMU, where he served a term as president and taught a popular course based on the articles of the New Yorker magazine. He enjoyed poker with friends, book clubs, activities at Temple Sinai, and especially being in the company of his family and friends. He will be sorely missed.  Services at Temple Sinai, 5505 Forbes Avenue on Monday, August 22, 2016 at 2:00 PM.  Visitation at Temple one hour prior to services (1 - 2 PM).  Interment West View Cemetery of Rodef Shalom Congregation.  Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Family owned and operated.  www.schugar.com.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, 1 North Linden Street, Duquesne, PA  15110. 

Condolences

Sincere condolences to Rhoda and to all of Julian's family and his many friends.