Julius Hochstein

Julius Hochstein, age 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, FL. Julius was born on December 5, 1936, in Houston, Texas to Sam and Selma Levy Hochstein. Julius graduated from San Jacinto High School in December 1954. He attended the University of Texas at Austin for one year. He then transferred to the University of Houston and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Julius worked in the retail pharmacy industry for 20 years at Interurban Pharmacy and Ralston Drugs. In 1985, he began working at Houston’s Veterans Administration Hospital and worked there for almost 35 years. Julius didn’t have to work that long; he just loved working at the VA as the Lead Pharmacist working with the Automated Dispensing System which was new technology introduced around 1990. He was so proud of that opportunity because back then no one else was willing to take the risk to work with a “machine”. He enjoyed troubleshooting the machine when it broke down and working with the manufacturer’s technician to resolve the issues. Julius was a member of various professional organizations such as the American Pharmacists Association, Texas Pharmacy Association, and the Houston Area Pharmacy Association. After retirement, he continued to learn about the pharmacy industry by taking multiple continuing education classes. He loved to continuously learn about everything. During and after his career as a pharmacist, his friends and family would frequently contact him for advice about various prescribed medications. Julius graciously gave his opinion about the benefits and potential side effects of those medications. Julius met Minna, the love of his life, while attending school at the University of Houston. They met as Juniors on a blind date set up by one of Minna’s cousins. After they graduated, they continued dating until they were married in August 1963. The two of them loved to travel both domestically and internationally. They traveled to Israel twice and took numerous cruises in all parts of the world. They went on various trips to China, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and Europe. Julius was an active member of Congregation Beth Yeshurun. He was both a Bar Mitzvah and was confirmed at Beth Yeshurun. He frequently attended Friday Night services, with Minna, and a number of their friends. Regularly after services, they would go out to dinner to try new restaurants in the area. Julius was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Selma Levy Hochstein, his sister, Rachelle Hochstein Gross, his brother-in-law, James Henry Gross, and his brother-in-law Nathan Louis Cytrin. He is survived by his devoted wife, Minna, his daughter Sondra Ludwick and husband Jody, his cherished grandson Luke Ludwick, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles and Madeline Cytrin, and many nieces, nephews, and many other loving friends and family. The family would like to express a deep appreciation to the medical staff on the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, Jet ICU, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, FL. The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Sophia and Jack Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 7445 Awty School Ln. Houston, TX 77055 followed by a graveside service. A luncheon will follow. For those wishing to view the service via Live Stream please use the following link: https://venue.streamspot.com/f8d04b5b In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Congregation Beth Yeshurun https://www.bethyeshurun.org/, Houston Holocaust Museum https://hmh.org/give/, or the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/.

Julius Hochstein

December 5, 1936 - February 18, 2023