Obituary of Dr Richard Marshall Stein

Dr. Richard Marshall Stein of Closter, NJ, died peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family members on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1932, Dr. Stein was a physician whose extraordinary career spanned six decades at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. For more than 23 years, Dr. Stein served as the Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine under three separate administrations. As an endowed professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a specialist in Nephrology, he was also Director of the Renal Division. In addition, Dr. Stein served on the National Kidney Foundation for 10 years as chairman and president of the medical advisory board for the northeast region and was recognized with its President’s Award in 1992. Dr. Stein practiced until his retirement at age 85, and continued to serve on the Ethics Committee at Mount Sinai during his retirement.

Dr. Stein found tremendous joy in taking care of thousands of patients during the span of his distinguished career. He loved, and was loved by his patients. Another of his greatest joys as a doctor was teaching the next generation including medical students, interns, residents, and fellows. He was recognized on numerous occasions as the outstanding teacher of the year, and his mentees have gone on to serve as leaders in medicine throughout the United States.

In addition to his medical career, Dr. Stein had a deep love of the creative arts. An early music aficionado and avid fan of the theater, Dr. Stein was himself an accomplished photographer. The National Arts Club in Manhattan honored him with a highly successful one-man show in 2004. Dr. Stein was an enthusiastic gardener and also a talented woodworker, creating stunning furniture and works of art.

For all his professional and artistic success, Dr. Stein’s greatest love was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Ellen Firestone Stein, whom he met when they were both students at Midwood High School in Brooklyn. Theirs was a love for the ages and together they enjoyed a remarkable life filled with children, grandchildren, dear friends, travel, and music. He is also survived by their children and their spouses, Julie Stein Brockway and her husband Barry Brockway, Dr. Eric Stein and his wife Carolyn Stafford Stein, and Dr. Adam Stein and his wife Ellen Brasington Stein. He is further survived by his eleven grandchildren and his sister-in-law Alice Stein.

A family service was held on June 28 at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, NJ. Donations in memory of Dr. Richard Stein may be made to any charity close to your heart or to Center for Family Life in Sunset Park. Please visit www.centerforfamilylife.org and select the "Donate" button.