William X. West

William West was born Vilmos Weiss on September 25, 1919, in Velke Loucky (Big Meadow) in what was then newly formed Czechoslovakia. He was the first of four sons born to Hanika Leibovics, his father David’s second wife. Nicknamed Vili by family and friends, he attended local schools in Mukachevo, a mid-sized town at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Warned by a policeman that local fascists were targeting Jews with violence, he and two younger brothers left for the United States and, after many harrowing escapes, reached New York in 1940. The liner that took them from Lisbon to NYC was sunk by a U-boat on its return trip to Europe.

He worked various odd jobs in New York before deciding to enlist in the US Army four months prior to Pearl Harbor. His decision was because, in his words, “The Army gave you three meals a day and you didn’t have to move a lot of heavy crates.” He served in the South Pacific as a radioman, 2nd class which he later quipped meant he was qualified to lug the radio in the hot Pacific sun but was not entrusted with its operation. He took part in the battle for the Eniwetok atoll and the Kwajalein campaign.

After the war he attended medicals schools on the GI Bill, first in Prague and then in Heidelberg, Germany. Upon graduation from Heidelberg summa cum laude in 1952, he returned to the States and interned at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He then obtained the position of chief resident in pediatrics at Alameda County Hospital in Oakland and finished residency at SJ County Hospital. While living in the East Bay he met and courted Brigitte Helm, a recent immigrant from Germany. They married in 1957 in Stockton where he had established a medical practice the year prior.

Dr. West worked as a pediatrician in Stockton for more than 55 years and was highly regarded for his expertise by both patients and fellow doctors. For almost 50 years he served Stockton families from his office on N. California Street, partnering with Dr. Surinder Raron for 20 of those years. For 17 years in the 60s and 70s he also served as chief of staff in pediatrics at SJ County Hospital. Over his career Dr. West received many awards and accolades from local and state governments and healthcare organizations.

Known as Bill to friends and colleagues, he and Brigitte loved to host summer dinner parties at their home on Park Woods. They also enjoyed travelling and had many friends all over the world. Dr. West kept up a large correspondence with the many people he had known in his hometown, had met in the Army and during his sojourn as a young doctor. He was a very generous supporter of Temple Israel and of Jewish causes worldwide. He was also very generous with his opinions and was a frequent “guest columnist” in the Stockton Record and The Wall Street Journal.

Dr. West loved being a doctor and, in turn, was loved by successive generations of Stockton families. Later in his career many grandparents, which had once been his patients, proudly came to his office with their newborn grandson or daughter. Often his patients came to him for life advice on what path they should take. His counsel was always the same: stay in school and study as hard as you can. It had worked for him, and he was certain it would work for anyone.

Dr. West passed away in September from the “silent artillery of time” four days after his 107th birthday. Brigitte, his loving wife of more than 69 years, had preceded him this past June. He was preceded also by his beloved daughter, Annette, of blessed memory who passed away in 2024. He is survived by Annette’s children, Brian and Laura, and their father, Robert Eiselman. He is survived also by his son Richard and daughter-in-law Katerina and their children Veronica, Anna (and her husband Jeremy), and David (and his wife Andrea). He also leaves two great granddaughters, Emma West and Josie Kramer.

The family would like to thank the staff at Dignity St. Joseph’s for all their care support these last 5 months. In addition, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the various caretakers from Provident Care, especially Jamie Tomasi, Dr. and Mrs. West’s principal caretaker, for the last three years. Our love goes out also to their neighbors Dr. Wade Lang and Mark Evans and Vicky Fuentez.

A memorial service for both Bill and Brigitte will take place on November 1 at 2:00 PM at Temple Israel.