Alan Sender Graubert MD

June 2, 1936 – October 12, 2026

It is with profound sadness and overwhelming gratitude for a life well-lived that we announce the passing of Alan Sender Graubert at age 90, on October 12, 2026 surrounded by his beloved family.

Born on June 2, 1936, in Dover, New Jersey, Alan will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather; a gifted physician, healer, and Renaissance man whose life was dedicated to caring for others. Known affectionately as “Big Al,” this long-time resident of South Florida was recognized for his towering height and larger-than-life personality, matched only by his caring and compassionate nature.

Alan was the beloved husband of Susan for sixty-five years. He was the cherished father of Charles (Dawn) Graubert, Michael Graubert, and Lynne (David Hazouri) Graubert; a proud grandfather to Chelsea, Aaron (Ashley), Madeline, and Ben; and great-grandfather to Isla. Family was the lens through which Alan viewed the world and the place where his healing gifts did their greatest work.

Alan devoted his life to the art and practice of medicine, serving as a trusted physician to generations of families in the town of Miami Lakes. To his patients, he was more than a doctor; he was a paternal presence reaching far beyond the examination room. As one of the earliest providers in the burgeoning field of family medicine, his method was community-based, multi-generational, and holistic. His efforts ran the gamut, from founding Miami Lakes Medical Center and Palmetto General Hospital to serving as the sideline physician for the local high school football team. He touched innumerable lives, and the extraordinary care he provided became an enduring part of his legacy. Everyone in town knew “Dr. Graubert!”, generating countless stories of how he affected their families’ well-being, both young and old.

Alan’s family moved to Miami from Dover, NJ, when he was nine years old. He spent his early years living downtown near Flagler Street, where he played with his twin brother, Ivan, on the shores of the Miami River. Alan grew up alongside the budding city of Miami, a place he loved and labored in its rise to greatness. After graduating Miami High School and completing his undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Miami, Alan left his cherished wife Sue and young sons in 1965 during the Vietnam War to serve as a captain and flight surgeon in the United States Air Force. He maintained a close connection to those who served their country, caring for pilots and veterans after the war as a personal specialty. Alan’s love for Miami was plainly evident in his unflagging fandom for the Dolphins, the Heat, and his prized Canes. Alan’s admiration of “the U” and lifetime of service would ultimately be recognized when he was named a member of the Iron Arrow Society, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Miami.

Beyond medicine, Alan pursued the visual arts, from painting to a lifelong passion for photography, reflecting his curiosity and appreciation for the world’s chaotic beauty. Alan documented the lives of the people he loved on his trusty Nikon camera with faithful clarity: the wonderful family events and holidays, his extensive travels with Sue, the milestones of his adored children Chuck, Mike, and Lynne, and he recorded them on a distinctive medium—big, bold, colorful Kodachrome slide film. Even the things he fancied were cataloged: his beloved pets, exotic street scenes, panoramic landscapes, or the simplest bloom from his cultivated orchid garden. Even the smallest flower petal could create a melange of color and meaning.

The infamous “Graubert Family Slide Shows” were “must-attend” events, becoming communal gatherings where each click of the carousel revealed another curated observation. Indeed, the shows became an apt metaphor for Alan Graubert’s life of experience: enjoy the bird’s-eye view; hone your vision; pause to observe your composition; beauty is sometimes found in the smallest of things; reveal the goodness of people, even if it takes a moment to capture the winning shot. For Alan, healing always began with an observation: one must truly “see” the world before you can heal the world.

With Alan’s passing, he becomes the last of his generation, reunited with his beloved parents, David and Lillian, and his cherished siblings, Seth, Helen Sternberg, Wilma Felder, and his twin brother, Ivan. May his memory forever be a blessing.

Please join Alan’s family to honor him for a Celebration of Life to be held at: The Palms Grille Restaurant at The Palms at Weston, 16102 Emerald Estates Drive, Weston, FL 33331, on Sunday, October 18, at 1:00 PM.

A committal service will be held at Lakeside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 10301 NW 25th Street, Miami, FL 33172.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions to the “In Memory of Alan Graubert, M.D. Campaign” made to the University of Miami Health System: https://ucare.miami.edu/.

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