Joseph W. Landau, M.D.

May 23, 1930 – August 16, 2025

Joseph W. Landau, M.D., died at the age of 95 on August 16.

Born in Buffalo, New York, to parents Carrie and Fred Landau, on May 23, 1930, Joe had one sister, Judith. The family grew up together in Buffalo.

After graduating high school in 1947, being the learned man he was, he attended and graduated Weil Cornell University undergrad in 1951 (Phi Beta Kappa) and went on to medical school in the same year, in the graduating class of 1955, graduating again at the top of his class.

He moved back to Buffalo for an internship at Buffalo General Hospital in pediatrics (1955-56). From there, he went into the Army, to serve as a medic in the Korean War, stationed in Japan as a Lt. Colonel (1956-58).

After the military, in 1958 he moved to Los Angeles for a residency in pediatrics (1960-61) at Children’s Hospital, eventually getting his Boards in Pediatrics. Then he went on to a residency at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine (1962-63) where he met Carole Gainsley, his wife and mother of his children.

He was elected to the Medical Honorary Society as a fellow in pediatrics and dermatology, acquiring an M.S. in pediatrics. Then after a short time in pediatrics, he went on to pursue a specialty in dermatology; getting his boards in dermatology and dermatopathology at UCLA.

He then went on to an illustrious career in private practice in Santa Monica as a leading and renowned pediatric dermatologist, doing much of his own pathology work as well. His patients loved him for his affable and understated, yet confident and often humorous, manner. He was known to many of the next generation of dermatologists in LA as their mentor at UCLA.

He raised his family with his then wife Carole. Joe was in private practice in Santa Monica for almost 50 years, retiring at 88 years old. He was loved and respected by his patients and colleagues of several generations.

He was a mentor for dermatology students for most of his career, and on the medical teaching staff at the UCLA Medical School as associate professor and on staff at St. John’s Hospital. He also gave several days each month to seeing patients at the Jewish Home for the Aged and made weekly rounds at the Wadsworth V.A. Hospital in Westwood.

He ultimately moved to his beloved home in Pacific Palisades in 1990, where he lived over 34 years. He loved to walk to the ocean vistas, hike in the nearby Santa Monica Mountains and spend time with family. Ultimately this home was taken away from him in the 2025 Palisades fire.

Joe was always an avid runner, hiker, mountaineer and outdoorsman. He was, above all, a beloved family man having five children and 12 grandchildren. He was a lover of learning, always on the cutting edge of the science of dermatology and truly, all medical fields, being a vociferous reader of medical journals, to which he contributed as well. He was our family encyclopedia for all things medicine, education, sports and stocks while a patient and accepting listener.

Joe was also a big Bruins football and basketball fan; but with his kids, he loved his camping trips, hikes and runs. He entered and finished the 26-mile San Diego marathon in 1976 in under three-and-a-half hours’ time.

Joe contributed to many Jewish charities, as well as his alma mater, Cornell, and many environmental and wildlife conservation charities.

He was the loving husband of Carole whom he had three children with, and a blended family of five, raising her two daughters as his own, their stepdad, who called him Dad.

Joe was a devoted dad who cherished and adored his kids and grandkids, a grandfather to 12 grandkids, and uncle to one niece, Rosalyn, daughter of his sister, Judith Liss.

Services/memorial will take place at Stephen Wise Temple in Bel Air at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9.

Donations may be made to the Jewish Home for the Aged, Los Angeles, Birthright Israel or World Wildlife Fund.