Leo L. Stolbach

Leo L. Stolbach of Dedham, MA passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at the age of 92. He was born on February 25, 1933, in Geneva, Switzerland. He, his parents, and his brother moved to the United States in 1939 and settled in the Bronx, NY. He quickly learned English and became a proud New Yorker.

Leo was a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science (1950), Harvard College (1954) and University of Rochester Medical School (1958). While in medical school, he worked in the lab of Dr. William Fishman, who sparked his commitment to cancer research. Dr. Fishman served first as a mentor and then as a research partner. Together, they discovered an enzyme test that is used to this day to track cancer growth.

Leo’s career as a Medical Oncologist spanned four decades and two countries. Throughout Leo’s career, he was respected and loved for his compassionate approach to patient care. He was deeply committed to ensuring that every individual with cancer had the opportunity to live life to the fullest. He was a pioneer in holistic mind-body approaches to empowering people living with cancer. He trained several generations of Medical Oncologists and Oncology Nurses. Leo continued to stay active as a volunteer mentor to medical students and new professionals after his retirement in 1998. In 2012, he received the Massachusetts Oncologist of the Year Award from the Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists. In 2014, he was named the Senior Volunteer Physician of the year by the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Committee on Senior Volunteer Physicians.

Leo was an avid gardener, a music lover, and an enthusiastic tennis player. He was a fierce advocate for single-payer health care and Israeli-Palestinian peace. Leo was well-known and well-loved at NewBridge on the Charles, where he and his wife Jeanne moved in 2009. In recent years, his greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially doing jigsaw puzzles and playing Rummikub. Leo was a beloved husband, father, and Poppa, who will be missed for his generous spirit, optimism, caring nature, and penchant for bad jokes (especially puns).

He is survived by his “One And Only,” his wife of 63 years, Jeanne Stolbach, of Dedham MA; his children and their spouses, Deborah Stolbach and Tony Bosco of Newton, MA and Bradley and Ellen Griffin-Stolbach of Chicago, IL; and his grandchildren: Marielle and Julian Bosco of Newton, MA and Eva and Jonah Griffin-Stolbach of Chicago, IL. He is preceded in death by his brother, Rene Stolbach, of Reston, VA and his parents, Henry and Greta Stolbach, of New York.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at the NewBridge on the Charles Synagogue, 5000 Great Meadow Rd, Dedham, MA on Monday, July 14 at 3:00PM. A gathering will follow. A shivah minyan will be held at 5:30PM on July 15, with visiting hours from 4:00 - 6:00PM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Health Care for All Massachusetts or J Street or the ACLU.