Biography of Dr. Joseph Fineberg
Joseph Fineberg was born in Toronto in 1917, the youngest of 7 children.
In 1941, Joe graduated with an M.D. from the University of Toronto, and then went on to earn a fellowship in Internal Medicine from Washington University in St. Louis.
Dr. Fineberg migrated to Los Angeles in 1945, following his service as a wartime physician with the U.S. army. He opened a medical practice in a predominately low income community where his patients were a diverse mixture of Blacks, Latinos, Roma, and Ashkenazi Jews.
During the 1992 civil unrest, he was able to care for all his patients, thanks to the assistance of volunteers who shuttled him around South L.A, in a windowless van. News of his selfless efforts to treat his disadvantaged and home bound patients, while risking his own personal safety, got the attention of city council. On June 23rd, Mayor Tom Bradley presented 75-year-old Dr. Fineberg with an “Outstanding Service Award” for his humanitarian attention to the neediest citizens of the city. He continued to work well into his 80s!
Dr. Fineberg lived a frugal life while accumulating capital through his astute real estate investments with his best friend and business partner.
It must be noted that Joseph’s father had been a tailor who earned a very meager living, so Joe and his siblings found whatever work that was available in order to supplement his parents’ income during the Great Depression. Despite these hardships, Joe’s mother had instilled the meaning of Tzedaka for those less fortunate. As a result, and the fact that he never married, nor had children of his own, Joe decided to bequeath his entire wealth to charity.
Growing up during the 1920s and 30s, Dr. Fineberg never had the privilege of enjoying many childhood experiences, such as going to summer camp, but he would be extremely pleased to see his hard-earned money going to the support of children in the wonderful environment created by the Jewish Camp Council.
Joseph Fineberg was born in Toronto in 1917, the youngest of 7 children.
In 1941, Joe graduated with an M.D. from the University of Toronto, and then went on to earn a fellowship in Internal Medicine from Washington University in St. Louis.
Dr. Fineberg migrated to Los Angeles in 1945, following his service as a wartime physician with the U.S. army. He opened a medical practice in a predominately low income community where his patients were a diverse mixture of Blacks, Latinos, Roma, and Ashkenazi Jews.
During the 1992 civil unrest, he was able to care for all his patients, thanks to the assistance of volunteers who shuttled him around South L.A, in a windowless van. News of his selfless efforts to treat his disadvantaged and home bound patients, while risking his own personal safety, got the attention of city council. On June 23rd, Mayor Tom Bradley presented 75-year-old Dr. Fineberg with an “Outstanding Service Award” for his humanitarian attention to the neediest citizens of the city. He continued to work well into his 80s!
Dr. Fineberg lived a frugal life while accumulating capital through his astute real estate investments with his best friend and business partner.
It must be noted that Joseph’s father had been a tailor who earned a very meager living, so Joe and his siblings found whatever work that was available in order to supplement his parents’ income during the Great Depression. Despite these hardships, Joe’s mother had instilled the meaning of Tzedaka for those less fortunate. As a result, and the fact that he never married, nor had children of his own, Joe decided to bequeath his entire wealth to charity.
Growing up during the 1920s and 30s, Dr. Fineberg never had the privilege of enjoying many childhood experiences, such as going to summer camp, but he would be extremely pleased to see his hard-earned money going to the support of children in the wonderful environment created by the Jewish Camp Council.
