Harvey Thalblum

Harvey Thalblum was a giant of a man in a 5 foot 7 inch frame. His parents, Nettie and Eddie Thalblum, both immigrated to the United States in the 1920s from different parts of Eastern Europe. They met and married after arriving here, lived in the Bronx, like so many other Jewish immigrants of their day, and quickly had a daughter Norma. In 1939, eleven years later they had a baby boy, Harvey. Not long after, they moved to North Miami Beach, where Harvey grew up.

His father was a butcher with his own store. Harvey often worked at the store, though he also spent a summer as a cabana boy at one of the beach hotels. His favorite days were Saturdays, when he could make a huge sandwich at the store, that he’d then take to the cinema with him, where, for a quarter, he could watch movies, back to back, all day long. His love of film started early. His father often went to the movies to learn English and Harvey went with him. He was sure he’d seen every western by the time he was five.

Harvey did his undergraduate study at the University of Miami, and then went to medical school at the University of Florida. It was here that he met his love, and his wife for the last 61 years, Donna. A beautiful, southern belle from Jacksonville who was a nurse at the hospital there. He first met her with a line about her long eyelashes, only he’d used the same line the day before on one of her roommates. Thankfully, she was able to see past this faux pas to his true potential. They were married in 1965 and, following an internship at then Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, Harvey began service in the United States Navy in Long Beach, California. Harvey had joined the Navy to help pay for medical school, and he did his residency there in San Diego at the Balboa Naval Hospital, following his tour at sea in the South Pacific. Their first son, Todd was born there and Brian was born three years later in Florida.

After the Navy, Harvey was offered a job in radiology at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Harvey was always going to be a doctor. His mother wanted it that way. And Harvey was a great doctor. He was dedicated and devoted to his patients, or rather, to their bones and mammograms. Harvey chose radiology, so he wouldn’t actually have to see patients, just their shadows. He always grumbled he didn’t really like people, but he was loved and revered by his colleagues and staff, because he was gentle and kind and treated everyone with respect.

Harvey had the kind of rational, logical brain you needed for radiology. It was also good for card games, trivia, and other fun activities, but Harvey did not like games, even though he often won. You always wanted him as your partner. He was especially good at puzzle games: crosswords, scrabble, sudoku. He had a 97% Wordle win percentage.

But Harvey also had a creative soul. There is artwork in his home that he drew. He wove blankets for his grandchildren, and a tallit for his son. He was an avid reader, reading a book or two a week. He also loved theater and musicals and movies. He kept up with what was in and being talked about and read or saw almost everything worth reading or seeing. And he could dance. He could cut a rug like the best of them and make anyone who was dancing with him look good.

He was also thoughtful and kind and generous. More and more generous as the years went on, because of Donna, but he still always gave. He also found great strength in his people and his community. He’s been a member, and leader, at Temple B’nai Jehudah, for more than fifty years. He was on the Board for a number of them, and most recently, was proudly on the committee that brought Rabbi Stephanie Kramer to Kansas City.

Harvey also loved to travel. He and Donna went pretty much everywhere: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, both Americas, Israel three times. He’s seen every country he wanted to see. There were many ski trips and beach trips. He’s been on planes and cruises and river boats and dog sleds. He’s even walked across the top of the Sydney Bridge.

He lived a wonderful, beautiful life.

A funeral for Harvey will be held at Louis Memorial Chapel in Kansas City, 6830 Troost Ave, on Sunday February 8, 2026, at 11:00 am. The family will be sitting shiva in the chapel at The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah that evening at 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the General Endowment Fund at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah or to a charity of your choice.

Harvey is preceded in death by his parents, Nettie and Eddie, his sister, Norma, and his son, Brian. He is survived by his wife, Donna, his son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Sabrina, his grandchildren, Noah, Gabriella, Tyler, and Samantha, and his shih tzus Speedo and Buttons.

He passed away peacefully on February 4 in his home.
He was surround by his family and his dogs.
May his memory be a blessing.

Zoom link is below.