Octavian Jurjescu

Octavian (Tavi) Jurjescu, MD, was born on December 26, 1939, in Teregova, Romania, to Sabin and Floarea (Bumbacilla) Jurjescu, where he grew up alongside his two brothers, Petru and Ion, and sister Elena.

As a child and teen, he excelled in school and had a lifelong love of learning. He earned admission to the Institute of Medicine in Timisoara, where he graduated first in his class in 1963 with a medical degree. He trained in both surgery in Timisoara (1963-1966) and neurology in Cluj (1966-1969).

While on a vacation to Algeria in 1970, he managed to separate from his group and seek political asylum in Austria. While there, he found a sponsor in the United States. He arrived in New York City in 1970 and traveled by bus to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he worked in a local hospital while learning English and studying to pass the ECFMG (medical qualifying exam for foreign graduates) within a year.

He pursued his dream of becoming a surgeon at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orlando, Florida, and the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where he did his internship and residency between 1971-1978.

He served in the medical corps of the US Navy between 1978-1981 stationed in Long Beach, CA, aboard the USS New Orleans (helicopter carrier), the USS Ranger (aircraft carrier), and in Adak, Alaska followed by ten years in the naval reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

He joined the General Surgical staff at Kaiser Permanente in Orange County, CA, in 1978 and continued full-time after completing active duty in the Navy. He became a partner in the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and remained there for the remainder of his professional career until retirement in 1999. He was a dedicated and gifted surgeon who cared deeply for all the patients he helped over the years. He was a valued and respected colleague and was universally loved by staff and his patients.

Tavi married fellow Permanente general surgeon Donna Formichella, MD, in 1989, and they welcomed son Mark in 1990. He was a dedicated and loving husband and father. He was proud of his Romanian heritage and enjoyed Romanian music—Enescu and Zamfir were particular favorites. Tavi loved to work with his hands, and he never met a household repair job he wouldn’t tackle. He enjoyed reading and learning about history and medicine, Italian and Romanian food, and most of all spending time with his family.

He was pre-deceased by his parents and siblings. In addition to Donna and Mark, he is survived by his sister-in-law Diane Galatie, nieces Nicole and Lauren, and several great-nieces and a great-nephew—all of whom he enjoyed.

Tavi was a truly remarkable and wonderful man. He was kind and generous, and all who met him found him to be a lovable gentleman. He was easy-going, and his smile and blue-eyed sparkle were hard to resist. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. His family wishes to express appreciation for the professional, skilled, and loving care he received from the staff at Forever Young board and care in Santa Ana, where he made his home for the past 4 1/2 years, and where his absence is already greatly missed.