Larry Haimovitch, 72, Journalist, Advisor and Ophthalmology Leader
Larry Haimovitch, 72, Journalist, Advisor and Ophthalmology Leader
Larry Haimovitch, 72, husband of Carie Harris Haimovitch, of Mill Valley, California, died peacefully at home February 13, 2019, while under hospice care. The cause was metastatic bladder cancer.
Born in Montreal, the son of the late David and Mary Haimovitch, Mr. Haimovitch received his undergraduate degree from McGill University, Montreal, and his MBA from New York University.
He was president of his own medical device technology consulting firm, Haimovitch Medical Technology Consultants. The firm concentrated in ophthalmology, interventional medicine (cardiology, electrophysiology, radiology and neuroradiology), urology, minimally-invasive surgical technologies and medical lasers.
Prior to forming his business, he spent over 20 years as a health care and medical device research analyst for a variety of investment banking firms and money managers. Over his career he served on several corporate boards. In character, he preferred advising and mentoring unofficially, and quietly. He also wrote professionally for numerous medical device journals and newsletters.
“Lucky Larry,” as he was known, was the ultimate networker, outgoing, resourceful, curious and clever. These traits served him well in his work. He was an eternal optimist, born under a bright and lucky star.
He was a risk taker, a maverick, irreverent and unconventional. He had big “cojones” and he was fiercely independent. His “outside-the-box” spirit drove him, even to the end of his life as he ran out of options in his cancer journey.
His main life objective was to have fun. When his world became so much smaller after his cancer diagnosis, he brought his favorite people close and managed to wisecrack and tell jokes. He found humor even on the last day of his life, when his ever-present phone died, cutting off his ”lifeline.” A cruel cosmic joke.
Friends were everything to Mr. Haimovitch, and he had the unique gift of staying in contact with many for years. He could easily float between his conservative, structured business world and a forward-thinking, often untraditional, open-minded inner life. He was generous with friends and family in addition to supporting numerous philanthropic and humanitarian causes.
Mr. Haimovitch served on the board of Zen Hospice Project, San Francisco, for 14 years, and continued there as a personal advisor. He was on the founding board of the Metta Institute, Sausalito, Calif., and was a strong supporter in dignified end-of-life and palliative care issues.
Mr. Haimovitch’s greatest passion was world travel and exploring cultures. He counted visits to 99 countries, sadly canceling a scheduled trip this past November to Mauritius and Madagascar, which would have put his count at 101. Favorite places were India, which he had visited nine times, and Italy on many occasions. He developed lasting relationships wherever he went.
On the night before he died, he desperately wanted to know what the final score was for his beloved Golden State Warriors (luckily, they beat the Utah Jazz, 115-108.) He shared season tickets for many years, and also had terrific seats for the San Francisco Giants as an avid lifelong baseball fan. Yogi Berra inspired him with many favorite quotes.
He was an energetic swimmer, and a curious scuba diver. He loved nature and was a runner and hiker before his knees gave out. With Carie, his wife and travel companion for 24 years, he shared a love of food, especially pizza. Together they entertained frequently at home with close friends.
Live music was a common interest, and they particularly loved seeing Pink Martini, Chris Botti and John Pizzarelli. Larry’s favorite musicians were Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
Comedy was another great pleasure. Robin Williams often performed locally at the theater where Mr. Haimovitch’s memorial will be held. Larry channeled the Three Stooges. He appreciated slapstick and was famous for fart jokes.
Mr. Haimovitch was deeply committed to his spiritual growth. Although he came from a Jewish upbringing, in the early 1970s he discovered the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and became a student and eventually a teacher of Transcendental Meditation, with Marlena Blavin, his first wife. This formed the foundation of his beliefs and daily practice, along with the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda: “Change yourself and you have done your part in changing the world.”
Surviving with his widow and first wife, who remained a lifelong friend, are a sister, Karen Buckwold, wife of Fred Buckwold, of Houston, as well as nieces, nephews and godsons. Bella the cat was with him when he passed.
A private celebration of life will be held in April. Details are available through his wife by email: CelebrateLarryHaimovitch@gmail.com. His ashes will be scattered at the mouth of the Ganges in India.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Glaucoma Research Foundation (www.Glaucoma.org), 251 Post St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94108; Friends of Ramana’s Garden, Inc. (www.Ramanas.org), Garden, Inc., P.O. Box 33312, Washington, D.C. 20033; or Mindful Life Project (www.mindfullifeproject.org), 124 Washington Ave., Richmond, CA 94801.