General (Ret.) Robert Joseph Deitz M.D.

Dr. and Gen. (RET) Robert J. Deitz of San Rafael passed at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco on Monday, April 18th and is now with our Lord. Dr. Deitz was born in Garfield NJ in 1932. In 1950 he joined the Navy as a Corpsman and was attached to the 1st Marine Division in Korea during the Korean War until 1953. After his separation from the Navy he went to Trenton Junior College and then the University of Utah to earn his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Dr. Deitz then went on to earn his Medical degree from Temple University and his PhD from Rutgers University. Dr. Deitz married his wife Sonya in 1959 and they had 4 beautiful children, Robert, Jeffrey, Lydia and Darcy. He moved his family to San Francisco in 1965 to begin work in the US Public Health Service Hospital and then went to La Jolla to attend Scripps Clinic advanced studies in 1967. He moved to Corte Madera in 1968 and then San Rafael in 1975. Dr. Deitz opened his private practice in 1970 at 2001 Union Street in San Francisco and was at this location for 45 years. General Deitz continued to server in the military during this time and retired from the California National Guard as Colonel and the California State Military Reserve as General. He was an avid 49er fan attending games starting at Kaiser Stadium and all games at Candlestick Park and all 5 of the 49er Super B owls. Dr. Deitz was a Life Member of Safari Club International and visited Africa 5 times to Safari and was known for his great Trophy Room. Dr. Deitz also had a passion for his dogs, golf and playing dice. Dr. Deitz is survived by his wife Sonya Deitz, his 4 Children Robert, Jeffrey, Lydia and Darcy and his 3 Grandchildren Robert Deitz III, Kira Yaffe and Nicolette Yaffe.