Alexander Z. Goldstein, M. D.
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Alexander Z. Goldstein, M. D., 85, of Edina, Minn., formerly of Harrisburg, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn.
Alexander was born on Nov. 2, 1924, in Warsaw, Poland. He married Anna Danziger on Sept. 10, 1946, and she preceded him in death on July 23, 2002.
Alex practiced family medicine in Rosiclare from 1955 to 1971 and in Harrisburg from 1971 to 2003, and was known throughout Southern Illinois for devotion to his patients, service to the community and personal courage. By way of example, after the April 12, 1971, Ozark-Mahoning Company's Barnett shaft mine accident, Dr. Goldstein volunteered to go down into the mine where he cared for the injured.
Dr. Goldstein was a survivor of the Holocaust, but despite many dreadful experiences in concentration camps, including the loss of his family, he retained a positive and loving attitude, a wonderful sense of humor and an engaging personality. After regaining his freedom after World War II he returned to his education and received his M. D. from the University of Frankfurt in Germany. Alex immigrated to the United States in 1951 and completed a residency in surgery at Chicago's Grant Hospital. He joined the United States Army, serving as a captain in the Medical Corps during the Korean War before moving to Southern Illinois to begin a medical practice that ultimately spanned almost five decades.
Dr. Goldstein was active in many state and local organizations. These included the Saline-Pope-Hardin County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and several appointments by the governor of Illinois to serve on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. For many years, Alex was on the clinical faculty of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine at Carbondale and participated on the SIU Educational Council of 100. He was a member of Temple Israel in Paducah, Ky.
Alex enjoyed playing chess and traveling throughout the world with his family. And, with Ann, he was an avid golfer; for many years they lived immediately across the street from the Harrisburg Country Club.
Dr. Goldstein is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Goldstein, M. D. and husband, David Benditt, M. D. of Edina, Minn.; a son, Steven Goldstein, Ph. D., and wife Debra of Los Alamos, N. M.; five grandchildren, Lauren Benditt of San Mateo, Calif., Hannah Benditt of Kansas City, Mo., Sarah Goldstein of Albuquerque, N. M., Megan Goldstein of Spokane, Wash., and Zachary Goldstein of Los Alamos, N. M.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4, 2010, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Former SIU Chancellor Dr. Sam Goldman will officiate. Burial will follow at the Temple Israel Cemetery in Paducah, Ky. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Memorials may be made to Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Obituary Page at www.reedfuneralchapel.com.