Theodore Balsam, M.D.

Theodore Balsam, M.D., 92, passed away on February 7th, 2024 peacefully at home. He leaves behind his beloved wife and partner of 71 years, Barbara (née Korn); three children, Hugh (Martin Varghese), Adrienne (Jason) Mitchell, and Lisbeth (Les) Lynn; and four grandsons, Andrew and Eli Mitchell, and Miles and Jeremy Lynn.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1931 to Esther (Golden) and Abraham Balsam, Teddy was a good Jewish boy who made his parents proud by becoming a doctor. He met Barbara at age 14 (!) and they married in 1952. After medical school and residency, he moved his young family to the hinterlands (Chicago), where he practiced at Weiss Memorial Hospital for more than 50 years — mostly in private practice, but then helping medical students hone their skills deep into his 80s. His kindness, gentle humor, and unfailing sense of empathy made him loved to his family, to his friends, to his many mentees, and to generations of patients, all affectionately known as his “fan club.” It was a big club. A treasured nanny and friend once said “Doctor, he is a diamond, and Barbara, she is a pearl.” Barbara didn’t like that very much, but the description of Ted was on the nose.

Ted had a sense of civic duty as well, and served the community as a member of the Lincolnwood, Ill. school board, as president of the medical staff at Weiss Hospital, and as president of the congregation of Temple Judea-Mizpah in Skokie, Ill. He had a positive impact on people’s lives. He was a mensch. The family would like to thank Patrick Racaza, Jo DeLeon, Joy Arguelles, and Dean Mark Cadevedo for giving Dad exceptional care and comfort in his last years.

Friends and family will gather for a memorial service for Theodore that will be held on Monday, February 12th, at 11 a.m. at Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Boulevard, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.

Those who desire may make memorial contributions to Doctors Without Borders (donate.doctorswithoutborders.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WeinsteinFuneralHomes.com for the Balsam family.