Dr. Spiera was an extremely caring doctor.  It was the 1980s and my wife was suffering from Lupus and kidney failure.  We visited Dr. Spiera for his important input.  I remember his delicate bed side manner as he examined my wife.  I remember him packing away a ton of patient files into his briefcase to take home and review. I remember him calling late at night to provide advice after reviewing my wife's medical file.  I remember his dedication and caring.  He suggested medication changes that helped tremendously.  My wife is still here today, after our visits to Dr. Spiera in the late 1980s.  A truly great doctor.  RIP.

A great doctor. Thank You for taking care of my wife. RIP.
Ralph DiSomma

My memory of Harry brings smiles often... this is his lasting legacy to so many!  His brilliance and kindness is the gift he shared with so many!!
Jerry Zacks MD

Dr Spiera was a gentleman highly intelligent.I first saw Dr Spiera in Brooklyn and in N.Y He treated my illness 4 over 55-60 yrs  so wonderful,compassionate,caring,and kind.i lcould go on and on. I miss him. Rip. Fay Baltch.  I called him my savior

Always to be remembered, always to be loved. Harry was a mensch!

I recently moved, and will be seeing a new Rheumatologist, which led me to reminiss on the time that I was spoiled by the best Dr. in the world. You see, I moved away from NY in September of 2010. 
I was truly devastated when I searched 'Dr. Harry Speira', and saw the word 'Obituary'. 
I am curious, after a lifetime of doing amazing things, what was it that completed his Nashama's (soul) journey among the living.
I came to be Dr. Speira's patient after ANOTHER Dr. (one of many), had come to the limits of his abilities,  and while searching for someone new, my Great Aunt (a current patient) offered to see if she could get me an appt.
The rest of my story is very similar to so many others I have read. Although he denied it, Dr. Speira DID save my life, and just as importantly, my QUALITY of life.
I don't know if Marilyn remembers, driving out to Massapequa one unseasonably warm Sunday, in Nov. of 2009.
That was my wedding that they came to. They only stayed for they ceremony,  but being able to share that, and then through pictures, the birth of my son in 2013 was my way of giving back some of what I had gotten for so many years.
My deepest sympathy to the entire Speira family.  I'll keep his Yahrziet.

I just learned of the passing of Dr. Spiera and I am so sad to hear the news. I first did a medical rotation with Harry as a medical student and subsequently I did 2 more rotations during my residency.  It was such a privilege and honor to do my fellowship at Mount Sinai with such a tremendous role model and mentor.  He has been a true inspiration for my career in rheumatology.  Dr. Spiera practiced medicine the way it should be done, and I am so grateful for the years I spent training under his leadership.  He will be truly missed.

When I developed strange and debilitating pain in some of my joints when I was just 35 years old, other doctors told me I was in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis.  When I saw Dr. Spiera in 1984  he comforted me and told me he didn't think I was looking at RA. He treated my pain effectively until I moved out of state in 1987.  When I worked as a supervisor for a major airline at JFK in 1986 I ran into Dr. Spiera and his son and in my appreciation for his help upgraded them  on their flight. It was the last time I saw him.  I am very saddened to learn of his passing. My belated condolences  to his family.  

I love you Dr. Spiera. I will never forget you. 
I cried my eyes out when he retired. In his office. In the street. That never happened before. 
You were like family. You treated the patient not the paper. You were my lifeline. A warm soul that really cared. I always enjoyed looking at the collection of globes on your desk. It showed how much you were loved. He was thoughtful about his treatment. You treated my grandmother when you were young. I am grateful that you treated me from childhood to middle age. My sincerest condolences to the Speira family.

He helped save my mothers life who had Wegoner’s.
His mild mannered warmth and compassion 
helped me though a very traumatic time.
So sorry to hear of this loss.
He was one in a million.

Harry Spiera was the highest form of a man.  He was kind , brilliant and a real "mensch".  He litterally diagnosed from accross the room when no other doctor had "a clue".  He begged me to bring my big  dog to the office and when I did he got down on the floor to hug him.  He wanted his grandchildren to see him. At every appointment, we hugged and he knew just what to say.  No other doctor knows anything about my conditions, which include EDS. I will forever be greatful to him.  My kindest regards to his lovely wife , who I met a number of times. I miss him terribly.

Dr Spiera was the best dr. I ever had and I have had many. Kind , compassionate, an expert in rheumatology so other drs often contacted him for his advice on difficult cases. An absolutely great human being they will be missed. Condolences to the family. 

Working for Dr. Spiera was a wonderful 3 years experience. My deepest condolences to the family.

With loving memories,
Elvis Flores

Dr. Spiera was my angel... I would tell him that each and every time I had a visit with him. In 1994 ,at the age of 34,  after years of pain and having no answers for my debilitating fatigue,  I met him. My world changed and  he saved me.  I will forever remember him and be eternally grateful. His compassion and sincerity was genuine.  He was truly an angel on earth. My sincerest condolences to the Spiera family. It was my privilege to know him. May he rest in eternal peace. 

Dr Speira became my doctor in 1975 when, at age 25, I was diagnosed with lupus.  I was very very ill.  He saved my life.  He immediately gave me comfort and hope, and with his incredible knowledge and "art" of finding the right medications, I have lived a completely full and normal life.  The lupus remitted for 25 years, but flared in the 1990's and I returned to him.  He remembered me completely, and he was my doctor again until he retired.  Even after I moved to Arizona, I made an annual visit to him.  He was an extraordinary doctor and human being.  Kind, interested in my life, supportive, and always accessible.  I will never forget him.   My deep condolences to his family.

I never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Harry Spiera, and I am a fairly recent patient of Dr. Robert Spiera, who I find to be one of the most brilliant and caring doctors that I have ever known. Given what I know of his son  and some of the beautiful memories written here about his father, I know that his great legacy is being carried on by his son. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Spiera family, his former colleagues and staff who mourn his loss and celebrate his life, both as a wonderful family patriarch and also for his amazing contributions to the field of rheumatology. 



Dr. Spiera was my rheumatologist from 1993 until his retirement.  After going from doctor to doctor with my symptoms of fatigue and joint pain and various other ills, Dr.  Spiera was the only one who connected the dots and diagnosed me with Lupus. He was a doctor in the very best of the word; he was interested in all aspects of his patients. He was a gentle man and gentleman with a joie de vivre that was infectious. My sincere condolences to the Spiera family. 
  

I knew Harry from growing up in Jersey City. My family frequented his father’s butcher shop, and my father, Sina S. Singer, a general practitioner, cared for his family for a time. 
I remember him as a kind and soft spoken person with a gentle soul, a beautiful smile, and a sparkle in his eye.


My deepest sympathies to the Spiera family. I was so very saddened to hear this heartbreaking news.  Doctor Harry Spiera was my doctor from 1995 until he retired.. I met him at such a frightened time in my life newly diagnosed with scleroderma. With his guidance and care I learned to live , keep going . He always told me not to be afraid . I am alive because of Dr Harry Spiera. Not only a brilliant doctor but the most gentle, compassionate , kind , loving ,caring human being . You will forever be in my heart Dr Spiera. .  You will be missed.  

I met Dr Harry Spiera when i was 23 yrs old. He was the only one who was able to diagnose my condition and ultimately with the grace of G-D save my life. I always told him that he felt like a father to me because he cared so much about me and he made me feel like I was his top priority. I visited him once a year Purim time and got to know his wife Marilyn and his children.  He raised  a wonderful  family. His children meant the world to him. He was a genius doctor a devoted husband father and grandfather. He adored his grandchildren.
I went to visit him on March 10th  in his home. I was welcomed in by him and we sat and spoke on his couch for a long time reminiscing of how we met, what challenges we met and how grateful he is to see me. In fact he told me wow Leah you look so young I am so happy you came to visit. He didn't want me to leave. Neither did I. We had a special connection. I’m glad I saw him. I will miss him like one misses a parent. I am sure he is sitting on a heavenly throne looking down on his wife children and grandchildren and smiling at what he has accomplished in his lifetime. His selflessness , kind, caring persona will be with me forever. A giant is gone but his legacy lives on.
Leah Schlesinger

Dr. Harry Spiera was one of the most remarkable men that I have ever known. Not only was he a brilliant pioneer in the field of medicine, and a teacher to many, he was also a loving and kind human being. Fortunately, he was my beloved doctor for ten years before he retired. I came to him when I was frightened with what was happening to me physically, and he helped me weather the storm.
Dr. Spiera was a religious man who cherished his family, whom he often spoke of with great admiration. Somehow, I always felt like a member of his extended family. He treated me as a whole human being, and I imagine he was like this with all of his patients. It was through his steadfast guidance that I learned to accept my own body’s limitations. With his help, I learned to keep going and live my life to the fullest. He believed in my power, and he was always there to pick me up along the way and cheer me onward. I have never known a doctor as knowledgeable, compassionate and kind as Dr. Spiera. 
When he told me that he was retiring, I was disappointed and sad. He told me that his son, Dr. Robert Spiera, would take care of me. Again, he was right on target. Thank goodness Robert is there to fill his father’s enormous shoes with his own ability, intuition and grace.
I am eternally grateful. He will live on in my heart. May he rest in peace.

Katharine Cullison


I never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Harry Spiera however; I have had the abundant blessing in my life to be in the care of his son, Dr. Robert Spiera.  It seems to me that the very best of Dr. Harry Spiera’s brilliance, compassion, empathy, and innate understanding of healing is embodied in his son.  What an incredible gift to have grown in the loving guidance of such a special man yet, in that gift is the inherent pain of loss at this time. Throughout my experiences with medical practitioners when I disclose that my doctor is Robert Spiera they inevitably remark on his genius and in the next breath say something akin to ‘do you know his father, he is a legend, an amazing man’.  Sadly, knowing Dr. Harry Spiera is not something I will experience but I am so very grateful to him for giving this world his son.  I offer my sincerest condolences to the entire Spiera family at this time of painful loss; you will be in my thoughts and prayers.  -Maura

My father, Dr. Samuel Katz, was a colleague  and friend of doctor Spiera in the rheumatology department of Mount Sinai.
Every year my parents were invited to the luncheon party at for all the rheumatology doctors . It was held at Mrs. Spiera's restaurant,Peter Luger.
It  was one of the  happy memories I have of my own parents; every year  they attended.
My father always spoke so very highly of" Harry" and what a great doctor he was.
I remember my father telling me  that Penny and Robert went into medicine and the youngest daughter went into the Peter Luger restaurant business.
My mother Anne  was Scottish; and the Jewish  Scots always say' Long Life"  to the family of the person who is not here any more.
So "long life " and good heath to your whole family.
Carol Katz.


Dr. Harry Spiera – what can I say about this brilliant man, this friend, the doctor I credit with saving my life.
I first met Dr. Spiera for a second opinion – thank God I did!  He treated me for Scleroderma over the past nearly 40 years – always with kindness, compassion and heart.  His knowledge and expertise were unprecedented.  I’ve had the pleasure of your presence for so long – now it’s time for you to be at peace.  That special place you’ve held in my heart will forever remain.  The magnitude of a “thank you” can and will never equal the magnitude of having one's life saved.  You will be missed immensely, Dr. Spiera, but your legend will live on.  
My deepest sympathies to Marilyn, Dr. Robert Spiera, Jody Spiera Torch and Dr. Penny Spiera Turtel.  May God bless you all and your families.  Joanie (& Robert) Weick


I was sorry to read about Dr. Spiera's passing.  He was my very caring doctor during my years in NY. I hope that his family is comforted by his remarkable practice and connection to his patients. What a testament his office was to him...his many gifts from patients and family photos that filled the space.  May his memory be a blessing to all.

I am so very saddened to hear this incredibly heartbreaking news.  I was a patient of Dr. Spiera's for over 15 years.  Dr. Spiera was such a compassionate, caring and knowledgeable doctor.  I would travel all the way into NYC from NJ to see Dr. Spiera, not only because he was such an expert and icon in the field of rheumatology, and in my particular illness, but also because he was so kind, concerned and empathetic.  The world has lost a true hero and champion for those of us who looked up to his expertise and kindness.

The man’s greatness was matched only by his humility. When you were in his presence you knew you were in the extremely competent hands of a doctor who cared deeply. And while we are all diminished and saddened by his passing, we are thankful to have had him as our physician and aware of our great good fortune of now being in the care of his son who embodies the best of Harry Spiera.

While I did not know Dr. Harry Spiera, I have been a patient for six years of his son Robert whose exemplary qualities clearly mirror those of his highly respected and beloved father.  My husband Jerry and I send our sincerest sympathy to the entire Spiera family .  
Carolyn Ouderkirk

Dr. Spiera is well known in the scleroderma community as a compassionate physician, staunch advocate and educator of medical students and other physicians about the disease and it's effects.  Personally, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet him and share the warmth of his company.  He will be greatly missed by so many.  My condolences to his son Robert and the entire family.  

I met Dr. Harry Spiera as a young nurse in my twenties. Newly diagnosed with lupus,  I came for a 2nd opinion. The moment I sat in his office for my consultation, I knew I found the doctor of a lifetime. Dr. Harry Spiera embodied what every patient dreams of, brilliance, compassion and dedication. He was not only a wonderful doctor, but a kind man. It was a privilege to have been his patient for the past 37 years. I will forever miss him. 
My condolences to the Spiera family.
Agnes Bernstein

I can not recall collaborating with any clinician as  knowledgeable , kind and compassionate as Harry.  We shared many patients over the years and his experience and insights were invaluable . As important was his humility and common sense. He exemplifies the adage “They don’t make ‘em like that any more”.  

David Simpson MD

Dr Spiera, was not only my mentor  in Rheumatology  but also taught  me the most important lesson in life of empathy. I had the honour of being his fellow in 95 . What he told us on rounds will never be forgotten. He was always there for you to give you a helping hand . I had to under go surgery how Dr Spiera helped me and comforted my wife we for ever have been eternally grateful  . He in true sense was a Master (Senpai) and all his fellows were his Kohi. May God rest his soul in peace and Grant him heaven . For this is an irreparable  loss .
Dr Asim Khan 

My deepest condolences to Dr. Spiera's family.  I had the pleasure of knowing him since my internship at Mount Sinai in 1989.  He took care of my mother for years.  He was a master clinician but perhaps even more importantly, a kind and compassionate human being.  He was loved and trusted by all of his patients and respected by his colleagues.  He stood apart from the rest and will be greatly missed.  May he rest in peace.  

Gwen Skloot, MD

Dr. Spiera was my mother Dr. Leslie Kerr's greatest mentor. The best of the best in his field. He will be greatly missed. Also a wonderful person!

Charles

I was friends with Penny in hs, plus we were neighbors. I remember going to their house and Dr. Spiera was always welcoming, whether they were sitting  down to eat or just hanging around .

Beautiful family.

Dr. Harry Spiera was my mother’s physician.  He treated and guided her for over 20 years for rheumatoid arthritis and the collateral issues of the disease. He was an amazing Rheumatologist, diagnostician and a compassionate gentleman.
I send my condolences and prayers to his family. With great fondness,
Martin Sandler

A little over ten years ago I met Dr. Harry at a very uncertain and frightening time in my life.  I liked him the minute I met him.  I knew this was a loved and loving human being.  His office was surrounded by pictures and gifts from his patients.    This kind, humane soul added another blessing into my life, his son Robert.  When Robert spoke about his dad at the service, about how his father treated each person as a person and not a case, Dr. Harry passed that gene onto his son Robert.  Unfortunately, I’ve been handled by the medical field far too much and too often.  When the Spiera’s entered my life, I knew what real medicine was supposed to be.  I am grateful to have had the blessing of Dr. Harry.  There is absolutely no medical professional I trust more in my life than Robert Spiera.  Rest In Peace dear Dr. Harry.  A job more than well done.

My sincerest  condolences  go out to the
Spiera family. 
I had the honor to know.and work  for
Dr. Spiera for 35 years. I will have   only
 fond memories  l will  miss  him  so  much. He was a wonderful  person 
I will pray  for him.
              LOVE, ,Zulma 

My deepest & condolences to the Spiera family.  I am grateful to have the pleasure & privilege of working for Dr. Harry Spiera for about 14 years. It’s very rare to come across a person like him. He’s a phenomenal doctor and as person. Always humble and treat people with dignity. He’s gone but I will never forget his kindness and caring. May him RIP Dr. Harry Spiera 

Harry “found me” as a young Doctor and gave me the priceless gift of confidence through his trust and confidence while challenging me with valued patients. His wisdom and experience made me a better physician. Years later I came to value him even more as I learned  my priceless office manager Kathy was given decades  of high function through the artful deft handling of her Lupus.  Rob, and family, you’ve been given a rich multidimensional gift that goes beyond a Father. 

Dr. Spiera, in addition to being an outstanding doctor, was an incredibly wonderful human being. ..one of a kind.
My condolences.
Harriet Abramson

Words  can not express my feelings for the loss of one of the finest human beings that I have known.       Allen Turtel M.D.
.

The best Dr. and kindest human being. Feel blessed to have crossed paths in life with you. You’ll be dearly missed. May God bless your family. Rest In Peace. 🙏❤️🌈
Josephine & Steven Zachofsky 

My deepest sympathies to the Spiera family.  Dr. Spiera as I knew him was my Rheumatologist since 1994.  He diagnosed and monitored my Scleroderma. As a board member of the Tri State Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation, I truly appreciate all he did to further research, education and support to the Scleroderma community.  I also was impressed with the closeness he had with his son Dr. Robert Spiera, who clearly was influenced and I presume inspired by him as well. I will always remember his warmth, caring, gentle demeanor and his smile.  May his memory be a blessing to the Spiera family and all those knew him.

I had the privilege to work with Dr. H. Spiera for over 29 year.
He was and he will always be one of the most amazing human beings I have ever met.
You are and you will be in my heart.
You will never be forgotten .
Rest In Peace Dr. Harry  Spiera!
My sympathy and condolences to his family.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Harry Spiera

23 janvier 1932 – 11 avril 2020

Riverside Memorial Chapel

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