Richard J. Wolf, M.D. (NEPH 1973)

Dr. Richard Wolf, 72, died peacefully in his home on September 23, 2015 surrounded by his family. Richard was born in 1943 in Akron, OH. He earned a BA in History from Northwestern University in 1961 and an MD from University of Cincinnati in 1968. Richard completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Chicago’s Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center. He went on to further specialize during a fellowship in nephrology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Richard served two years as a Major with the US Air Force in the Philippines before settling down in Northern California in 1975 to practice medicine and raise his family. In 1980, he joined Eureka Internal Medicine, where he would remain until retirement in 2009. Dr. Wolf was particularly proud of bringing dialysis treatment to Humboldt County in 1977. Richard (aka Wolfie) was a devoted doctor who treated his patients with the utmost dignity, respect, and charm. He will fondly be remembered for making his hospital rounds every Halloween dressed as a prim and proper female nurse.

Richard was deeply grateful for the community, and pursued numerous ways of giving back to it. He was active in the Jewish community, served on the Boards of the Blood Bank and Hospice of Humboldt, volunteered as a driver for RSVP, and was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). An avid cyclist, Richard completed numerous Tour of the Unknown Coast centuries and several multi-day races out of state. Three years after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, Richard underwent a successful double lung transplant in 2010. He thoroughly enjoyed life in retirement with his new lungs, spending time with his wife Lorraine, three children: Stacy (Eric), Josh (Susan), and Maya; four grandchildren, CASA kids, and Charlie the dog; tending to his beehives; and pursuing a lifelong love of travel. He died due to pulmonary complications.

Honoring his request, the family asks that donations in Richard’s memory be made to Humboldt Area Foundation CASA Endowment Fund and Hospice of Humboldt. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at the Bayside Grange on Sunday, November 8th at 2pm.