Lasting Memories
Gary David Zweig
Sept. 1, 1949-Jan. 21, 2021
Palo Alto, California
Gary Zweig, a remarkable husband, father, brother, friend, physician, and photographer died at the age of 71. He was born in Rochester, NY to Edythe and Paul, who ran a collection of clothing stores with a pride and determination he carried with him all his life. He was known in his youth and thereafter for his sweet smile and uncommon combination of studiousness, creativity, and love of fun.
Gary fulfilled his dream of becoming a physician by attending Case Western Reserve University, the University of Rochester Medical School, and the University of Chicago, where he completed his training in Internal Medicine. In college, he met his wife of 48 years, Susan. Together they built a wonderful life centered on a shared love of family, careers, friends, community, and travel. Gary’s sense of adventure brought them to California in 1979, where they settled in Palo Alto and raised three sons, Eric, Jeffrey, and David.
Gary joined Sunnyvale Medical Clinic in 1979 and practiced Internal Medicine there for 18 years. In addition to his clinical work, he served as Chair of the Recruitment Committee, helping to expand the group to over 150 physicians. He was on the staff of El Camino Hospital and volunteered at the RotaCare Clinic. In 1998, he ventured into private practice in Palo Alto and associated with Stanford Hospital. His dedication to his patients, compassion, and ability to skillfully care for a wide range of medical issues propelled his career for 22 more years. He cared for multiple generations of patients and was as beloved as he was respected. He retired in September 2020.
Gary’s interests and talents extended far beyond medicine. During his 41 years in Palo Alto, he could be found playing baseball with his sons and coaching their youth sports teams, hiking and photographing in the Baylands and Foothills Park, swimming, mountain biking, practicing conversational Spanish, and walking with his dog, Tess. He was an adoring husband and father, extraordinary nature photographer, creative cook and gardener, trusted mentor, and loyal friend. His priority was always his family, for whom he exemplified love, commitment, joy, and presence.
Gary is survived by his wife, Susan; sons, Eric, David, Jeffrey, and daughter-in-law, Ashley; brother, Richard, and sister-in-law, Julie; niece, Hannah; and nephews, Jacob and Aaron. His values, the life he created for himself and his family, and the many lives he touched are his legacy. Donations in his memory may be sent to Ravenswood Family Health Network, Ecumenical Hunger Program, or the ASPCA.
Nov. 1, 2021
To Susan and all your family, Richie and all your family...just heard recently from your cousin Daryl Chinn about Gary's death. Condolences and good memories of growing up together on Carol Drive and Wimbledon Road. Nancy and siblings Wendy, Michael, Morris, Howard.
May 6, 2021
Dr. Zweig was my first physician when I moved into Silicon Valley in the mid-90s. I briefly followed him to Palo Alto, but was unable to continue for long due to the time required away from work. Aside from his upbeat and pleasant manner when I dealt with him, one incident does stick out in my mind. He was treating me for something minor (I don't recall what) and he was talking to his nurse about a young man who was trying to earn money during college by selling knives. Dr. Zweig had sold knives for the same company when he was in school and when he needed to replace them, he called the company and they sent this young man to demonstrate the knives. Dr. Zweig related then how he invited this man to have dinner with him and Mrs. Zweig and talked to the gentleman about his future plans and ambitions. I felt as he was relating this story that he had a genuine interest in this person and was building a connection and relationship. Both the medical profession and society in general has lost a very good person.
Feb. 28, 2021
I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Rotacare Clinic from 2005 to 2008, & it was there that I first met Dr. Zweig. I remember a quick man of medium build, always with a bright smile. Even though I was in the pharmacy & he was seeing patients, we would talk during our dinner breaks & soon I gravitated towards his warmth & energy. Deeply impressed with his commitment to patient care, I observed Dr. Zweig put in the effort to learn medical Spanish, in his own time, solely to serve a segment of the population who could not hope to pay him for his services. Just barely into my 20’s & still contemplating a career path. I fondly remember preparing patient charts & upon his arrival, would hesitate to leave after closing the exam room door for just a moment too long, all to hear the good doctor excitedly break out his freshly learnt Spanish vocabulary. Dr. Zweig made medicine look effortless. This was a natural, a person who truly understood the field in its entirely, from patient intake to diagnosis to the often mind-numbing paperwork load. Healthcare is a maddening field, & yet I cannot recall a single instance of witnessing or hearing of Dr. Zweig being in conflict with anyone, or even having a negative word to say about anything. Long before “mindfulness” would become the latest buzzword, Dr. Zweig was very much in the present moment with everyone he encountered. Though I would very quickly decide that medical school was not for me, I remained a healthcare worker & strove to bring that same presence, enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, & care to those I served. By 2008, I had gone into the field full-time: my volunteering had to be tabled. The same year, Dr. Zweig would retire & go into concierge medicine. I was delighted he was able to really focus on & spend ample time with every patient, something I knew Dr. Zweig loved to do & saw as central to his standard of care. Though we would never work together again, in later years, I would hear of Dr. Zweig from my own patient group & we would all express a mutual round of admiration for this almost larger than life man. One does not just mention his name & expect to have a subdued conversation: “Dr. Zweig saved my life” was a shibboleth for those who gave him their fiercest loyalty for his uncanny perspicacity, & we would all nod in a certain knowing upon its utterance. Any conversation about him would never be a short one, everyone I’d met who had the good fortune to have Dr. Zweig as their doctor had anecdotes & fond memories to share; ourselves becoming an impromptu fan group. As a testament to the impact he had on me & also his humbleness, I would share the story of how Dr. Zweig learnt a new language for the sole purpose of serving a community in our clinic & the relief they expressed to our staff knowing they could rest a bit easier under his care. For a man so alive, he almost seemed to evince our own joie de vivre, misplaced somewhere in the daily hustle & bustle of life. Despite his medium build, Dr. Zweig leaves an enormous legacy. There are so many wonderful & dedicated providers in the healthcare field, even in this recognition Dr. Zweig remains an exemplar- truly in a class of his own. As another person said online, there are no words for the “enormity of this loss.” Now, our community not only loses a physician, some of us who knew him also bear the loss of a mentor & role model, a colleague & friend. My heart truly goes out to his family & everyone who had the gift of knowing that warm smile, & his healing touch. Humble, kind, caring, genuine, generous, & brilliant: Dr. Zweig, thank you for the joy you brought to our community & for being as close to a superhero as a medical doctor can ever be.
Feb. 25, 2021
A wonderful doctor and person who had a great impact on many of us