Dr. Kompanietz suddenly passed away on June 20th 1999. He is survived by his loving wife, Mrs Sylvie KOMPANIETZ and their children, Paul-Adrien, Natacha and Pierre-Igor.

Mrs KOMPANIETZ is unable to access the Internet, if you wish to send her your sympathy, please write directly:

Mrs KOMPANIETZ
20 rue Pasteur
41310 ST AMAND LONG PRE
FRANCE

or send it through the following email address: hchegui@club-internet.fr, which will transmit.

Henri CHEGUILLAUME

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Dr. Joel was part of the OBGYN.net family from the very beginning. His participation in the Women's Health Forum, OBGYN-L and in building the French resources is well known among his colleagues and friends at OBGYN.net. Click here to read the interview with him on why he volunteered for the Women's Health Forum. Click here to read an article by Joel on Miscarriages and Their Reasons.

His kindness, generosity, wit, charm, and joy in life will always be remembered by all who knew him. He was a very special person, wonderful doctor, and great family man. He stayed with Bruce and me, and our family and Dr. Rick Chudacoff and family about a year and a half ago when he, Sylvie, and Paul-Adrien visited the United States. Please join with us here at OBGYN.net in extending condolences to his family.

If you have anything you would like us to publish on this memorial page at OBGYN.net to be printed and sent to his family please send it to Roberta Speyer, Publisher.

Roberta Speyer, Publisher OBGYN.net
roberta.speyer@obgyn.net

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Thank you very mutch for yours messages. I send their tomorrow to Mrs KOMPANIETZ ; today is "14 juillet" holiday and the post is closed. I am in ILE d'YEU on ATLANTIC OCEAN near VENDEE coast.

Regarding Joel's death circumstances, I am only able to tell you that my daughter explained to me by phone. She is Mrs Capucine CORNIC, which is a Joel and Sylvie's friend. She lives, with her husband and four children boys in VENDOME near SAINT AMAND LONGPRE where the family KOMPANIETZ just bought a house. Eldest son Pierre is the same age as Pierre-Adrien. Joel just took shares in a clinic of VENDOME. Personally I don't know the KOMPANIETZ family.

On June the 20th, there was a party in the ST AMAND village for the "father's day". Joel in the afternoon said "I am tired; I am coming back home". He left the place by foot with another doctor-friend. After hundred meters, this one stopped to say goodbye to someone, only during less 30 seconds. When he return on the way, he saw Joel laying down: infarctus! They tried to reanime him but it was too late...

Sylvie and her children are very shocked of course. In addition, yesterday, she learned her mother-in-law's death. These two deaths are very stressful for them.

Her phone number is 02 54 82 86 37. From USA you must to dial 33 + this number but I don't know if it is with the first zero or not. Beware of GMT hours. Here it is five p.m.

Best regards from H. CHEGUILLAUME

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Dear Paul-Adrien,

I liked it when you visited us. I'm sorry about your Dad. I thought he was real nice.

Aaron Speyer, Age 11
aaron.speyer@elecomm.com

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I'm shocked and saddened, I don't know what to say. As Roberta mentioned, Joel stayed with my family and me during Thanksgiving, 1997. He was a bright, funny and engaging person, who could laugh loud, speak straight and mingle well. We used to play beeper tag through the email/internet systems.

Never knowing what to say at times like this, I always remember the scene from 'Arthur' when Dudley Moore was in the bar, after finding out John Guilgood's character was dying. Someone asked him why he was sad, and he said his father passed away. The man said he was sorry, and Arthur replied, "Hey, I was lucky to have known him at all." That is the way I feel about Joel. Even with tears in my eyes, I WAS lucky to have known him at all.

May G-D bless his memory and spirit, and give his family strength and courage in their period of need.

Rick

Richard Chudacoff M.D.
richard.chudacoff@obgyn.net

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I am so sorry to hear of the untimely death of Dr. Joel Kompanietz. He has been a vital part of the Women's Health forum since it's inception. I always enjoyed reading his answers, and felt it was so valuable to get a European perspective. His answers were full of common sense -- and uncommon grace. Although I never had the privilege of meeting Joel, I feel my life has been touched by his presence. He sent a wonderful e-mail after Hunter was born, one which I printed out and have saved for her.

My deepest sympathy to Mrs. Kompanietz, Paul-Adrien, Natacha & Pierre-Igor. Your husband and father was a wonderful citizen of the world. He will be missed by many people around the world.

Kelly Shanahan, MD
S LakeTahoe, CA, USA
kelly.shanahan@obgyn.net

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Dear Henri,

It is with great sadness that we at OBGYN.net have received your email. The death of our good friend Joel has brought tears to the eyes of my sister Roberta Speyer, her husband Bruce and me.

We have been long time cyber friends of Joel and also had the honor of a personal visit from him and his dear wife Sylvie and their son Paul-Adrein last year in Austin, Texas. They spent a wonderful week with my sister and her family at her home. I had the privilege of joining them and we all went to Houston to visit another physician and his family for an American Thanksgiving Dinner.

It was a time of good fun, many laughs and much love. We will forever keep dear Joel alive in our hearts.

OBGYN.net would like your permission to announce his sudden death to the many physicians and women who know him from his many hours of service to OBGYN.net. If you would care to send me some details that I may include in this tribute I would appreciate your doing so.

If you would care to share the cause of Joel's sudden death I would appreciate that information also. I do not want to pry into personal causes of death but as you know we are devastated today at OBGYN.net.

If you are in close contact with Sylvie please tell her for Roberta and myself that we are, truly saddened and send out love to her.

I thank you for the courage to send us this message as I know how difficult this must have been for you to do.

Deepest respect,
Barbara

Barbara A. Nesbitt
Editor, OBGYN.net
barbara.nesbitt@obgyn.net

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It is with great sadness I offer my most heartfelt sympathies to the friends, family and loved ones of Dr. Kompanietz. He will be sorely missed and his memory cherished by all.

Respectfully yours,
Heather Guidone
OBGYN.net

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Dear Roberta:
I received this shocking announcement about the death of one of the distinguished OBGYN.net advisors, may God help his family to pass this hard period and my condolences to all those who know this great man.

Asem Moussa

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Ante este doloroso suceso, enviamos un sentido pésame para la Sra Sylvie Kompanietz, sus hijos Paul-Adrien, Natacha, Pirre-Igor y demás familiares. Que Dios lo acoja en su seno.

Agustin Olmos, M.D.
Marta Méndez, M.D.
Teodoro Méndez, M.D.

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Dear Roberta: I am so shocked to hear of Dr Kompanietz's death. It is funny how, having been a part of obgyn.net for so long now (as a reader and poster here at WHF), you become so familiar with the many people who are involved here. When something like this happens, you can't help but feel saddened. I, too, would like to express my sympathies to his family and hope they find strength in knowing that so many people who they have never met are sharing somehow in their loss. Very, very sad.

Jean camper@ns.sympatico.ca

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To the family of Dr. Jol Kompanietz, I am very sorry for your loss. And our loss as well. It is not very often you find a good doctor willing to dedicate his time and energy. He will be missed.

Sincerely, Dominique Penvose
Zoe4319842@aol.com

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Dear Roberta,

I received your email of the 14th of July, I was touched and sad by the news of the death of one of our good collegue. Hope that time will help that family recover from their loss. I am forwarding the letter that I have written to them, what do you think of it?

Camran Nezhat M.D.

Madame,

Qu'il me soit permis, au nom de mes collegues et au mien, de vous exprimer nos sinceres condoleances pour le malheur qui vient de vous frapper, vous et votre famille. Ce qui, comme mois, ne connaissait pas personellement, Dr. savent combien sa personnalite etait extraordinaire. Sa disparition soudaine nous a tous causes un profond chagrin. Mes collegues et moi, nous vous prions de vouloir bien trouvez ici, Madame, l'expression tres sinceres de nos sentiments attristes.

Dr. Camran Nezhat
Directeur du centre de l'endoscopie a l'university de Stanford
Professeur de Chirurgie
Professeur de Gynecologie et Obstetriques

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