Marcel was my teacher, mentor, colleague and dear friend. I met him and Shoshana thru Dr. Jack Nelson, Marcel's closest friend, who was also all four of the above to me. On many occasion, my wife and I joined the four of them at Jack or Marcel's apartment for dinner. When the three of us retired to the living room after dinner, I basked in the two friends' conversation, honored to be in their presence.
     Marcel and I were particularly bonded because my parents were both Holocaust survivors. Like them, he not only survived, but prevailed.
     Like Jack, he was a consummate physician, giving his patients all the time in the world and, more importantly, all of his compassion. Whenever he or Jack referred a patient to me, I was honored and humbled, but also intimidated because I knew I was not their equal, even if they pretended I was.
    When he was compelled to close his practice, I know that all of his patients were bereft. So was I.
    When he ultimately passed, I was grief stricken.
    The world, my world, was a far better place when he was in it.
I will continue to miss him.

It is hard to believe that it has been 5 years since Dr Tuchman's passing. I have yet to find another doctor like him, and I know I never will. He was so attentive, so patient, and so interested in his patients. You never felt rushed or ignored.  Mostly he was very kind....and also very perceptive. I always felt he had my number.  He had a productive life, book-ended by two tragedies...first the Holocaust which he wrote about in his memoir, and then late in life by the death of his wife and so sadly his son. But in between those two terrible events, he became  a legend at NYU. Almost all of my other doctors there either knew him, or heard of him, & were always impressed. A measure of his success -- and his patients and colleagues admiration and love for him --- was the enormous crowd that turned out for his funeral. 
 I still keep his photo with my family photos in my dining room.
Ellen Grove
Brooklyn, NY
ellenlouisa22@aol.com

My son Tobias Wolf had the honor of interviewing Dr. Marcel  Tuchman for an HBO Documentary "The Number on Great-Grandpa's Arm" in 2016 when he was 12 years old.  They spent a glorious afternoon together.  Tobi received a letter from Dr. Tuchman shortly after their interview expressing his delight in their time together and how hopeful he was of the future.  The letter is a treasure for my son and our family.  Here is a photo from that day. They look like they could be family.  I know this is late but I had to share.  The world is a better place for your having been in it.  

Sincerely,

Robyn Wolf  and the Wolf Family   

Dr. Marcel Tuchman, I just saw an elephant figurine with its nose down and thought of Dr. Tuchman and his enormous collection of elephants.  He was the doctor of my father who he diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 61 
26 years ago.  He was my physician when I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29.  He let me run into his office 3x a week with all my fears and concerns, always helping me to let my mind relax.  No judgement just comfort, he understood, he was a friend, he was the one I trusted completely.  I would think,  he can go on forever, but I knew better, of course,  I am sad to know that day had come, but this is the reality of life.  For a moment in time he was my doctor, my family doctor.  They don’t make Dr. Tuchman’s anymore.  I’m lucky to have had him in my life and I extend my warmest condolences to his family.  It’s a bit late, but I still wanted to share my love, appreciation and thanks for sharing this wonderful man with so many. God Bless.
Debbie Feder

I last spoke with Dr. Tuchman when he was 93 years old at which time there was no sign of aging.

I read his wonderful autobiographical book today and found it to be very well written and a very stark revue of his time during the holocaust, his employment by Siemens and his subsequent study at The University of Heidelberg, emigration to the United States and start of his medical career in this  country. 

He was highly intelligent, very sensitive and empathetic and a fine doctor. He will be missed for some time.

Dr. Marcel  Tuchman became my physician, confessor, guide and dear friend from the fall of 1962 when I joined the NYU Law faculty through fifty six years until his death last November.   One of his many tributes from his medical students was that he taught them not to practice just with their head but with their heart.  He was an exemplar of this:  listening carefully, feeling not just the body of his patients but their soul.  Thus, he was a great diagnostician and a loyal, sensitive practitioner of all the medical arts.  His courtesy,  gentleness, good humor and wise counsel triumphed over the unspeakable cruelties the Holocaust visited upon him and his family.   He and his wife, who worked by his side as long as her health permitted,  will live in the adoring memory of all of us blessed to know them and to have our lives improved and sustained by his skill, kindness and friendship.  Carr Ferguson     

Dear Peter,
It is with a heavy heart that I just learned of your father’s passing.  Reading your dad’s book a few years ago was a deeply moving experience, one that I will always cherish.  With deepest sympathies, Rick Rosker.


To Peter and the family of Marcel Tuchman, 
I met your father at his office a few years ago; I was introduced by Lydia Granoth. My mother and Lydia were cousins, grandchildren of   Avram Goldmann, brother of Mordechai, your progenitor. I later spoke to your father but never managed to meet again though he had been most cordial then and when I called later.

A few days ago, I was suddenly compelled by an article in "Smithsonian" about a Polish girl's diary that mentioned a friend, Maciej Tuchman or Marcel as he was later called.  It electrified me and brought me back to the isolated tiny post-it that has been on my door for two years. It has been a daily reminder to contact Marcel and finally talk to him of Lydia, who passed away in April, 2017.   

I had not been able to speak of Lydia's death earlier as it was so painful for me. I loved her very much. Did you know her? 

Well, the article galvanized me.  On Nov 9th, I called Marcel's medical office which is very close to my apartment.  I was really not surprised that it was no longer active. After all, Marcel would be in his late 90's. It would not be surprising if your father was deceased yet when I looked I did not find an obituary online.  I could not find his home number which I had before so I sent an email which I now cannot find, even in my sent box. I bought another copy of your father's book to give my sister. That was on November 9-10th.

Today, a close friend visited her dentist and saw the name Mario Tuchman on an adjacent office door.  She knew of his story and of my recent attempts to reach Marcel. She entered that office to discover that they were not related though Mario Tuchman sometimes received your father's mail. 

A quick look on the internet by the receptionist revealed that Marcel died on November 10th.

I just wanted you to know that there is someone else mourns your father's death, sends you condolences on your loss and hopes he rests in peace.

Sincerely, 
Naomi Shore

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Dr. Marcel Tuchman

2 novembre 1921 – 10 novembre 2018

Riverside Memorial Chapel

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