Jay Michael Portnow passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on July 25, 2022. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 18, 1943, the son of the late Alfred E. and Florence Ida Portnow.
Jay excelled in academics throughout his early years and as a young adult. He studied at Columbia University, earning an undergraduate degree in 1964 and a Doctorate in Chemical Physics in 1971. After Columbia, he continued his studies at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, where he became a Doctor of Medicine in 1979.
Although Jay was bookish in his early years as a physicist, he loved interacting with people as a medical doctor, and he was driven to help others. He made great efforts to improve home healthcare for the elderly, writing the book “Home Care for the Elderly,” which was published in 1989, and launching Wellmark Healthcare Services, Inc., which although ultimately not successful was ahead of its time in promoting and refining home care for the elderly. Aside from his efforts in the home care arena, Jay spent most of his professional career working as a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. In particular, Jay ran his own rehabilitation medicine practice in Brockton, Massachusetts, for many years. Throughout his medical career, Jay cared for his patients by combining his sharp intellect with a genuine interest in their lives and a willingness to listen.
In addition to his intense focus on academics, Jay always kept a curious and open mind. He traveled and lived all over the world: Italy, France, Boston, Philadelphia, Austin, Galveston, Germany, Bermuda, Oakland, Florida, Jamaica, Scandinavia, and his favorite place, Belgium. He pursued a wide variety of interests, including cooking, reading, Aikido (he earned a double black belt), boxing (he trained at South Shore Boxing in Whitman, Massachusetts), and yoga (he became a certified yoga instructor).
Despite his many accomplishments, Jay took the most pride in being an amazing father to his sons, John and Sam. From cooking five-star meals for his sons, to daily phone calls, to memorable vacations in Marion, Massachusetts, binge watching movies until late at night, Jay was always there for his sons.
Jay is survived by his sons, John and Sam, both of Rockville, Maryland, his brother Richard, of Los Angeles, his grandchildren, Ava and Micah, and his nieces, Samara Halperin, of Oakland, California, Ilana Halperin, of Glasgow, Scotland, and Maia Halperin, of New York, New York. He is predeceased by his sister, Gayle Halperin.
Jay was laid to rest in Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney, Maryland, on July 27, 2022. Jay’s sons would like to give thanks to Jay’s caregivers, Yesli and Annagrace, for all of their care during the last several months of Jay’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Parkinson Disease Association (apdaparkinson.org) and the Amyloidosis Research Consortium (arci.org).