Born March 22, 1927 Died December 10, 2023
Beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather leaves behind a legacy of compassion, gratitude and his life-long love of medicine, piano, orchids and his most treasured love of all- family.
Alan was born in Chelsea Memorial Hospital (CMH) where he later would become Chief of Medicine. He entered Harvard College at age 17, took a year off to enlist in the Army, and after WW2 ended he caught up with his classmates to graduate Magna cum laude with a AB degree in Biochemistry. A year later he entered Harvard medical School (HMS) Class of 1953, and during his final year of med school he met the love of his life, Marlene Leshin, who became his wife of almost 60 years. After a stint in clinical research, where he published a number of original research papers, started raising a family and became a Medical Officer in the Army National Guard (final rank Major) he found his true passion in medicine- Primary Care as an Internist. He practiced at CMH and then many years on Revere Beach. He taught Harvard med students and became an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at HMS, and had close ties and admitting privileges to one of their affiliates Beth Israel Hospital. He finished up his medical career at New England Rehab Hospital and retired at age 70. In retirement he stayed quite fulfilled with his orchids and rose gardens, practicing and entertaining with his amazing piano skills, and spending time with his growing family which he absolutely adored, and they truly adored him back.
Alan thrived well into his nineties. He continued to amaze his family and friends with his computer skills, including his use of an iPad instead of sheet music during his concerts. At age 96 he performed his last piano concert, all George Gershwin including Rhapsody in Blue. He was a long term Steinway piano fan, and Steinway and Sons were so impressed they videotaped it and interviewed him which can be viewed here: https://msteinert.wistia.com/medias/37nj0wpfa4
He leaves behind his 3 children Janet Cowan, Steven Kaitz and his wife Debborah, and Cheryl Denmark; his 8 grandchildren Sara (Cowan) Chella, Michael Cowan and his wife Christina, Stefanie (Cowan) Guillemette and her husband Jeremy, Jenesse Kaitz and her husband John, Danielle Kaitz and her husband Adam, Deanna (Denmark) Merrill and her husband Kinkaid, as well as his two step-grandchildren Sean Sirrianna and Carissa (Sirrianna) Neely and her husband Phillip. Even in his 90’s he loved playing with his 3 great-grandsons Matty Chella, Benny Chella, and Landon Guillemette.
He was predeceased by his parents Isidor Kaitz and Anna (Cohen) Kaitz, his brother Haskell Kaitz and sister Joan (Kaitz) Levine, his loving and devoted wife Marlene (Leshin) Kaitz, his grandson Ethan Denmark and son-in-law Larry Cowan.
Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 10:30 in the morning at Temple Isaiah, 55 Lincoln Street, Lexington Massachusetts. Burial service to follow at Westview Cemetery, 520 Bedford Street, Lexington.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Alan’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts / New Hampshire, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472 www.alz.org/manh or to the Wendy Bernstein Memorial Garden Fund, c/o Temple Isaiah www.templeisaiah.net.
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