On January 29, 2023, Robert S. Waldbaum, MD, age 84, passed away peacefully in his home in Manhasset, New York, surrounded by his loving family. A lifelong New Yorker, Dr Waldbaum grew up in Brooklyn and was accepted into Columbia University at the age of 15 as a Ford Foundation Scholar. He graduated with honors and then attended Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was elected as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. Dr Waldbaum also was the president of his medical school class. He proudly served as a naval surgeon with the Second Battalion Third Marine Division, an experience he cherished throughout his life. He was a surgical resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and a urology resident at the New York Hospital, training under Dr Victor Marshall. Dr Waldbaum was the founding chairman of the Department of Urology at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York. He served as a chairman of the medical board and a trustee of the North Shore LIJ Health System (now Northwell). He was the founding partner and president of Urology Associates, a private urology practice, for over 35 years. In addition, Dr Waldbaum served as the chairman of the Urology Section of the Academy of Medicine. He was the president of the New York Section of the American Urological Association as well as their national historian. In addition, he served on the AUA’s Board of Directors.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr Waldbaum received may honors and lifetime achievement awards, including the Russell Lavengood Distinguished Service Award from the AUA and the John Lattimer Award from the National Kidney Foundation. In addition, North Shore LIJ and Dr Waldbaum’s patients endowed a chair in his honor, the Waldbaum Gardner Professorship in Urology.

As his close friend and urology partner for over 30 years, I would emphatically declare that Bob would be proudest of what he would consider his greatest accomplishment—his family. He was adored by his 3 daughters, Nicole Moser, Alexandra “Ali” Kinnie, and Hillary Waldbaum, as well as his sons-in-law, Michael Moser and Bob Kinnie. He shared a loving relationship with his 4 grandchildren, Cameron and Charlotte Moser, and Emma and Jack Kinnie. He was forever blessed to have shared a fairy-tale marriage with the love of his life and best friend, Ruth Waldbaum, MD. Throughout their 59 years of marriage, they shared all of life’s experiences together—exotic travel, golf, gardening, theater, opera, and skiing.

Dr Waldbaum was truly a giant in urology who trained and influenced so many urology residents throughout his career. He not only educated them in urology but taught them how to practice and perfect urological care for each patient. He will be dearly missed but forever remembered.