Philip Blumenthal

Philip Louis Blumenthal, M.D., 90, left this earth on Nov. 10, 2008, in San Jose, Calif.

He was born in Malta, on Feb. 20, 1918, to Leah Esther (Caselberg) and Ellis Blumenthal. In 1933, the family moved to Helena, where his dad owned the New Way grocery store, which he eventually sold to Buttrey's. One of his fondest memories is being present at the inauguration of the Going-to-the-Sun Highway in 1933, which was also attended by then-president Franklin Roosevelt.

Phil graduated from Helena High School in 1935 and completed medical school at the University of Minnesota in 1943. After marrying Eileen Marie Hoffman in 1944, he served in Guam as a captain in the Army from 1944-1947.

Dr. Blumenthal opened his first general practice in Mandan, N.D., in 1948, and retired in San Jose in 1989. During these years, he donated many hours of his life to fight for social justice, care for migrant farm workers and football players on local high school teams, and worked hard with his wife to establish the first hospice in Santa Clara County.

Phil is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eileen; daughter Mary Kay Reager and husband Dennis, of San Francisco; son Christopher Blumenthal and wife Lorraine Christie, of Scotts Valley, Calif.; daughter Casey Blumenthal and husband Craig Krueger, of Helena and Whitefish; daughter Martha Popick and husband Jeff, of St. Helena, Calif.; grandchildren Amy, Nathan, Bonnie, Philip and Hannah; and great grandson Rory.

Cremation has taken place, and a service was held on Nov. 15, 2008, at Sacred Heart Parish, in Saratoga, Calif.

Memorials may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery AL 36104.