Obituary of Brian Jeffrey Ellinoy

Brian was born on April 27, 1943 in San Diego, California and grew up in Long Beach, California. He excelled in his academic studies and was also very active in Jewish life. From age 15 until his last year of pharmacy school, he taught at Temple Beth Shalom’s Sunday school. One of his most memorable Sunday school students, Rachelle Lackman, was honored and thrilled to become his wife in 1973.

Brian earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles in 1968, followed by a hospital pharmacy residency in the United States Public Health Service at the USPHS Hospital in Seattle, Washington. He then did a tour of duty as a Lieutenant in the Indian Health Service as a staff pharmacist at the IHS Hospital located in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Reservation.

After completing his government service, Brian worked as a pharmacist research associate at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington. He was involved in the pioneering computerization of the patient medical record, working with Dr. Lawrence Weed, and in the development of online guidance used in medical decision-making. 

Brian returned to California to become a staff clinical pharmacist at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, a position he held for more than 20 years. There he developed an interest in other complementary therapies, facilitating a monthly group, free to the public, inviting guest speakers to present information about their integrative specialties. 

After retiring from Community Hospital, Brian expanded his work as an Integrative Pharmacist™, establishing the Next Chapter lecture series at the Monterey Public Library. This series was one of the most well-attended at the library, and Brian loved being referred to as the “Leon Panetta of the Monterey Library.”

Brian also made regular presentations about his integrative consulting practice to physicians, dentists, various groups on the Monterey Peninsula, and multiple appearances on the Local Access TV channel. Additionally, Brian was a co-developer and co-instructor for CSUMB nursing school’s Integrative Health class in 2015, one of the most popular and highly rated of all the BSN classes.

His two greatest loves were his family and Judaism. He was a loving, caring, and devoted son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He delighted in being an actively involved father in raising his two children, Batya and Ari. He was much loved and cherished by a large extended family. Brian was an active member of synagogues in Palo Alto, CA, Carmel, CA, and Honolulu, HI. 

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Ann Ellinoy and Stephen Ellinoy, and his stepmother Emma Gottlieb Ellinoy; his sister-in-law Louise Marak, and his nephew Ben Marak. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rachelle Lackman; his daughter Rabbi Batya Ellinoy (Dr. David Walton) and his son, Ari Ellinoy (Dr. Jessica Ellinoy); his granddaughter Jasmine Bianca Ellinoy; his brother, Dr. Bruce Ellinoy (Judith Clarke); his sister-in-law, Cheryl Lackman Feinberg Solomon (Ron); many nieces and nephews, their respective children; and numerous other loving relatives and beloved friends all over the country. 

Through his legacy of his abundant love, compassion, selfless acts of loving-kindness, and service, empowering others towards better health and wellness, Brian will live on through his family and everyone who loved and appreciated him.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 13 at 10am at Congregation Beth Israel, 5716 Carmel Valley Rd, followed by interment at Mission Memorial Park, 1915 Ord Grove Avenue. 

Links for both livestream services will be posted at this site: https://healeymortuary.com/tribute/details/325434/Brian-Ellinoy/obituary.html#tribute-start

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Josephine Kernes Memorial Pool, Carmel Foundation, Alliance on Aging, American Heart Association, or IsraAID.
 

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