Sheldon Israel Dorenfest

June 22nd, 2024

Dear Family,
This is a late remembrance for Sheldon. I was VERY thankful that I was hired by Sheldon’s firm because he thought I could contribute something Information technology-wise to his firm because I was a medical technologist . He was at the top of his game and we were all privileged to be part of his healthcare IT firm .

Rosalie Campbell

~Rosalie Campbell
~Healthcare IT Consultant with Sheldon’s Firm, Mundelein

May 21st, 2024

Shortly after I became editor of Modern Healthcare in the mid 1970s, Sheldon Dorenfest submitted an article about IT in hospitals. After that he submitted several more articles that were valuable to hospital executives and his clients and brought him new buyers of his data books on health care IT.

In the mid ’80s, my wife and I started our marketing communications firm. He was an early and major client. I got to sit in on a lot of data base development meetings and seminars that Dorenffest & Associates held for health car IT systems vendors.

It was great fun watching Sheldon grow his firm, explore the world and eventually recover remarkably from his major stroke.

Working with Sheldon was an important experience for me because he attracted smart, entrepreneurial clients and staff. And he did his best to help hospitals make important decisions about their IT systems while at the same time he helped his vendor clients grow their businesses.

He loved his family and life. A lot of people will have fond memories of Sheldon Dorrenfest for the rest of their lives, I think.

~Donald E. L. Johnson
~In the 70s Sheldon contributed articles to Modern Healthcare when I was the editor. When I started my business, he was an early client., Saint Johns, FL

October 2nd, 2022

My deepest condolences to Sheldon’s family. My heart goes out to you … I don’t have words for this.

Sheldon was such an inspiration to me. He found my yoga studio in Omotesando, Tokyo through our mutual friend Kazu. He would often stop by whenever he was in Tokyo, usually visiting between his trips to China.

I was so inspired by his presence and practice. Having suffered partial paralysis, no doubt practicing yoga postures did not come easy. But he was steady. Just like his heart and his presence, steady and strong. He never needed me to assist him much, only to stand by and provide this space of safety and serene energy within which he would blossom into his own focus. I have no doubt that his presence was most certainly an inspiration not just to me but to many who shared practice in the same room.

We became friends and I enjoyed sharing meals with Sheldon so much. We got to talk about a lot of our life experiences, relationships, learnings, and realizations. In so many ways it was easy for me to talk to him about anything and everything–I always felt like he had seen it all, and would have the capacity to take it in.

Thank You for your enormous heart, Sheldon.
Thank You for all the times you encouraged me, supported me, and shared your presence with me. You will always be in my heart.

So Much Love,
mae.

~Mae Yoshikawa
~friend and yoga teacher, Tokyo, Japan

September 30th, 2022

I was talking about Sheldon with my yoga teacher in Tokyo a few days ago. I sent him email but no reply.
As I am reporter, I looked for him online and found that he passed away. I would like to give my deepest condolences. I had my niece pass away on September 8 this year and she was 32. My sister lost two daughters since other one passed away 10 years ago by accident.

We met yoga studio at Y plus in Shanghai and we practiced together many time. We became friends and had meal and coffee together. I came back to Japan in 2013 and he came to Japan to practice at my teacher’s studio a few times and I remember our meal and talk in Tokyo. He was very inspiring.

I have moved to Bangkok a few years ago and I was visiting my two children in WA and I was in DC for my work in August. I was thinking about Sheldon.

I visit US once a year and hope to pay visit grave.

My best wishes to Sheldon’ family. He often talked about his daughter.

Kazuhiko Shimizu

~Kazuhiko Shimizu
~yoga friend, Bangkok Thailand

January 19th, 2022

Sheldon was an indescribable force. Someone who did not fit any mold. His persistence was remarkable. His pursuit of discovery in the world, health, religion, and self-discovery was something I have never seen in another. I miss my friend Sheldon who I was able to discuss business and entrepreneurial ideas, great news, bad news with… His approach to understanding culture, people, and ways of doing business in various environments was really something to learn from. Love you Sheldon, wherever you are. I will never forget the best business advice I have ever received, advice you repeated a few times when I over complicated things – nice and practical of course – “Businessmen (& women) like to do business.” always followed by that intense stare and then a wry chuckle. Thanks for your dear friendship, Sheldon. May your memory be a blessing, may the spirit of your journey be carried forth with your family, and may your legacy continue to inspire next and future generations to improve healthcare delivery and to leverage technology to get that done. ברוך דיין האמת

~Shawna Koch
~Friend and Colleague, Penn Valley

November 9th, 2021

Sheldon leaves a great legacy, as one of the pioneers in the field of Healthcare IT. By the time I became fully engaged in this industry, he was already a significant presence with his Dorenfest Data Base (which later became the core of HIMSS Analytics).
My relationship with Sheldon began with his entry into the China market. I had already hosted Chinese docs and IT folks during my tenure at MD Anderson and later, while at VCU, I coordinated with Sheldon to facilitate visits to key US hospitals for CIOs from China. Subsequently, after my retirement, I was able to work with Sheldon and his company on several initiatives in China. I always found him to be brimming with enthusiasm, eager to share knowledge and a warm and personable colleague. I already miss him. RIP.

~RICHARD POLLACK
~Colleague, Richmond, VA

October 28th, 2021

I’ve known Sheldon since 2008. He has been a great mentor and a well-respected friend to me. If I had to name the top five people that are most influential on my professional and personal life, Sheldon would be one of them. He was a successful entrepreneur, a visionary, a pioneer in the Healthcare IT industry. His passion towards improving healthcare through IT was unparalleled. Over the past two decades, Sheldon dedicated his time and energy to consulting and advising Chinese healthcare organizations on adopting IT as a way to improve healthcare delivery. His passion to share his valuable experience and lessons learned throughout his career with countries such as China who are late comers in this revolution, and help them to avoid mistakes countries like US made over the years was witnessed and appreciated by all that benefited from it.

I worked with Sheldon in numerous occasions, mostly as a translator (between English and Chinese). Working with Sheldon has always been great learning experience for me. Sheldon has a unique and distinct ability to observe the world around him and form views and visions not apparent to others. To a certain degree, that ability compensated for not being able to speak the language while he was working in China. He is also a great listener. He asks great questions and was always patient when he listens. His views towards work, life, health and wellness were all insightful and have shaped my views in one way or another.

I will always remember Sheldon with gratitude, respect and admiration. May he rest in peace.

~Xiaochun Tong
~Friend, Willowbrook, IL

October 26th, 2021

Sheldon is a mentor to me for the past 7 years, bringing me into this industry and teaching me the skills and knowledge in this business and running the company. He had made a great impact to my life, especially in the years when I am switching tracks in my career. The guidance and patience given is beyond any gratitude I can offer.

Within the team we always had a joke about his presence, we said he is like Yoda, the grandmaster, teaching the young Jedi on how to combat the world. We will miss you greatly and thank you for everything that you did and gave!

~Junyang Wu
~Employee, China

October 21st, 2021

Sheldon was my employer off and on for 40 years last month. I will forever be grateful to him for giving me so many opportunities, training, and responsibilities that were usually not given to women in those days (1981 on). He taught me everything I knew about business and a lot about life. Though the work was hard, the effort was worth it because I excelled in my career. Here are some descriptions of him: extra smart, soothing voice, liked is old shoes, funny, wise, concerned for all, unbelievable memory, penchant for numbers like no one else in the whole wide world, had a little giggle, and always gave great encouragement and second chances. Sheldon was a dear, dear friend to both me and my precious daughter, Angie. Dear Sheldon, Thanks for everything!!!!

~Sandy Peterson
~Friend and Employee, Carrollton, TX