SAKETKOO, DR. GOODARZ, age 71, a surgeon and urologist, passed away on Sunday morning, February 28, at his home in Miramar, Florida after valiantly living with pancreatic cancer for nearly three years. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 45 years, Carrie Ann Saketkoo, and his children Dr. Lesley Ann Saketkoo a specialist physician in rheumatic diseases and an academician, Eva Marie Saketkoo an attorney in New York City, Dr. David Francis Saketkoo a psychologist in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Candice Donna Saketkoo a psychologist in Palm Beach and his daughter-in-law Angela Nervi Saketkoo and beloved grandson Dalton Aleksander Saketkoo.
Goodarz was born in Rasht, Iran to Khorshid and Davood Saketkhoo. He came to Newark, New Jersey in the early 1960’s for his medical internship and surgical residency. While completing his surgical residency, he survived his first carcinoma despite a dismal prognosis. Goodarz finished his surgical training at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach in the late 1960’s. He practiced in South Florida for nearly 40 years and was a celebrated, much loved, and highly respected surgeon in South Florida. Late in his career, he developed a debilitating complex autoimmune disease, which forced him into early retirement. Despite the challenges presented to him, he remained astoundingly selfless in all that he did as the head of a large extended family. Four years ago, he was found to have ocular melanoma, again surviving this challenge with fortitude and grace. He enjoyed cooking, political analysis, history, yoga, and traveling the world. In these last years he continued to love the simple pleasures of his family and was surrounded often by the love of his brothers Khashayar and Kiumars Saketkhoo, his sister Pirayeh Lahiji and their spouses, and his nieces and nephews who travelled frequently from California to enjoy his company.
He forever remains an inspiration and role model to his children who hope to emulate his determination, virtue, strength, immeasurable kindness and selflessness.
A gathering of family & friends will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 5:00-7:00pm with a celebration service of his life at 6:00pm at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care. A reception with light supper will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MD Anderson http://www.mdanderson.org/, where he received amazing care and treatment, or any cancer related charity.