Obituary of Phil Wolf

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Temple Sinai founding member Phillip Sarason Wolf, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on June 14 surrounded by family. 

Phil was the blessed father of Greg Foster (Beth LaBella-Foster), Amy Wolf (Dean Volk), Rebecca Hea-Wilson (Allan Wilson), and Suzanne Wolf (Craig Cutcliff), and an amazing Poppi to Mallory Wendel (Zach Wendel), Mitch Foster (Geneva Mueller), Elise LaBella, Samantha Hea Marks (Elliot Marks), Brandon Hea, Sara Volk Vera (David Illingworth Vera), Sam Volk, and Benjamin Volk, and great-Poppi to Claire and Isabel Wendel, Simon Marks and Elio Vera. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years Angela Wolf, son-in-law Roland Hea, and sister Joanne Cohen. 

Phil was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to parents Sara Phillips and Rabbi Sidney Wolf on February 5, 1936. He was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. His lifelong passion for classical music was developed in his childhood, as he was raised in a modest home with two baby grand pianos. From boyhood, his dream was to be a physician. After graduating high school at 16, Phil pursued his continued education at Del Mar College, then University of Texas at Austin, before entering medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas at age 18. He graduated at 22 and furthered his training in Boston at the Brigham Hospital where he met his match (in more ways than one), Angie Mazzone, the head nurse of the men's ward. They married in Boston in 1960.

He served two years in the 101st Airborne Division as a Captain at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Following his service, Phil and Angie moved to Dallas to complete his internal medicine residency, before moving to Denver for his cardiology fellowship. He practiced at Rose Hospital for 30 years, before joining the University of Colorado Hospital to serve as the Chief of Cardiology for 25 years. He retired at 79 as a Professor Emeritus but never stopped being a physician. 

Phil counted his greatest blessings as the love of his life, four children, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, with many beloved pets across the family. His life was enriched by his Judaism, deep friendships, lifelong learning, global travel, photography, greenhouse orchids, and classical music. He has spent the last two years in a wonderful senior-living community, enjoying the socializing, activities, shared meals, and his Janey Lozow. His humility, humanity, and curiosity was brought into every medical student he taught, patient he treated, and person he met. An avid reader and student of history and the world, his great intellect was complemented by his unwavering empathy in his bedside manner, and quite a bit of stoicism. He is already greatly missed. 

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:00 PM at Temple Sinai. Livestream available on Temple Sinai's website. Interment to follow at Emanuel Cemetery.

Shiva visitation will be Tuesday, June 16 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Temple Sinai and at the Acoya Senior Living on Wednesday, June 17 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM. 

Contributions in Phil's name may be made to Temple Sinai or Denver Children's Home.