Santa Cruz Physician Helen Nunberg Passes Away at 71

Dr. Helen Nunberg, a respected physician from Santa Cruz, passed away at the age of 71 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Her family described her as courageous and possessing a sense of humor until her final moments. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Scott Bongiorno, and her two children, Yuri and Leah, along with their spouses, Nell and Dairien, and three cherished grandchildren, Neavie, Sarai, and Ami.

Born in 1953, Helen grew up in a community of Yiddish-speaking Holocaust survivors in New York City. Her upbringing instilled in her a commitment to universalism and social justice. She pursued an education at the Bronx High School of Science and later attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she studied literature before embarking on a gap year in Europe. Influenced by the tenets of second-wave feminism, she decided to become a physician, aiming to assist others while achieving financial independence.

Helen obtained her BA in Biology from the University of Rochester and earned her MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. After fulfilling her National Health Service Corps scholarship by working in underserved health clinics in Puerto Rico, she and her family relocated to Santa Cruz in the early 1980s. There, she contributed to the community by providing primary care at several health centers, including the Westside Community Health Center and the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center.

In her career, Helen worked alongside renowned professionals, including Dr. Arnold Leff during the early days of HIV care. She later established her own practice and, at the age of 50, earned a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley, focusing on healthcare policy. With the enactment of the California Medical Marijuana Program Act in 2003, she began evaluating patients for medical marijuana recommendations, conducting research that contributed to the understanding of this population. Her findings remain influential in current studies.

Helen was also an engaging educator and frequently guest lectured on various medical topics, including substance use disorders and the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system. She pursued further training in psychiatry at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, later returning to Santa Cruz to provide psychiatric care until her retirement in 2019. Her patients often expressed deep gratitude for her compassionate and competent care. One note from a patient read, “Dr. Nunberg is super smart, warm, kind, and exudes confidence without pretense.”

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Helen cherished her family and friends. She celebrated the talents and kindness of her children and grandchildren, finding joy in their presence and in meaningful conversations with friends. Her ability to simplify complex issues and her love for nature brought her immense happiness. Those close to her will remember her joyful smile, her insightful discussions, and her unwavering kindness.

A memorial service is planned for family and friends to honor Helen’s life and contributions. Donations in her memory can be made to America SCORES Bay Area, a program that she and her family supported, reflecting her commitment to community development. For further information about the celebration, individuals are encouraged to contact the family via email at [email protected]. Helen Nunberg’s legacy will continue to inspire those who knew and loved her.