S. Steven Wolfson, M.D., 78, of West Hartford, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2006, from complications arising after surgery. Dr. Wolfson was a prominent Hartford area physician for more than 35 years. He retired in 1996. Born on January 21, 1928, in Far Rockaway, New York, the only child of Isadore and Anne (Gidinsky) Wolfson (both deceased), Dr. Wolfson grew up in West Hartford, and graduated from the Riverside Military Academy, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine. He did his residency at Hartford Hospital. Dr. Wolfson specialized in Internal Medicine, and spent most of his life treating patients from his office at 21 Woodland Street in Hartford. He was a caring and compassionate doctor and was beloved by many. Dr. Wolfson was a mentor to younger doctors who started their own practices in the Hartford area. Dr. Wolfson was well-known as a diagnostician, and was often called in to consult on complicated cases. He was an early proponent of the ?off-label? use of drugs to treat disease, and he was well known for his encyclopedic knowledge of medicine. Early in his career, Dr. Wolfson focused on forensic medicine, and served as an expert witness in the Connecticut Courts on numerous occasions. Dr. Wolfson also devoted a portion of his medical practice to caring for the community, treating many patients without regard for compensation and he was an active member of the Hartford Medical Society for many years of his practice. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve, and also held a private pilot?s license for many years. He was a longtime member of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee, and was a Justice of the Peace in the Town of West Hartford. He was a longtime member of the Masons and the Sojourners. Dr. Wolfson proudly served as one of the first Commissioners of the Connecticut Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, and he also served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Criminal Justice Education Foundation. After he retired, Dr. Wolfson became an avid trap and skeet shooter, enjoying many days at the Hartford Gun Club. He was also a licensed handgun instructor. Dr. Wolfson leaves his loving wife of 52 years, Ruth (Katz) Wolfson of West Hartford; his son and daughter-in-law John and Nancy Wolfson of Bloomfield; his son and daughter-in-law Robert and Leslie Savitsky Wolfson of Hebron; his daughter and son-in-law Faith Wolfson and Daniel Pitasky of Portland, Oregon; and five grandchildren that he loved and adored, Amanda Scott, Sydney Wolfson, Elias, Ari, and Asher Pitasky. He also leaves many cherished friends, colleagues and patients, too numerous to mention. The family would like to thank the staff and clinical team of Hartford Hospital for their compassionate and attentive care to Dr. Wolfson, with special thanks to Dr. W. Jay Krominger and Dr. Sharon Diamen. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford. His burial will be private. A memorial period will be observed at his home at 83 Fuller Drive on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday evening. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the The Komen Foundation, 5005 LBJ Fwy., Ste. 250, Dallas, TX 75244 or the International Essential Tremor Foundation, P.O. Box 14005, Lenexa, Kansas 66285-4005. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Dr. Wolfson with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.