Official nutritionist loses struggle with cancer

Felice Dee Kurtzman, a long-time member of Bruin sports medicine staff and the UCLA Department of Biological Chemistry, died Saturday after a 14-month-long battle with cancer. She was 52.

Kurtzman had been involved with nutrition education for UCLA medical students and athletes for the past 25 years, and became the Athletic Department’s official nutritionist in 1991. Her duties in that role included designing training table meals and nutrition plans, as well as working with individual athletes to educate them on the science of nutrition and its impact on their performance. Kurtzman was also a lecturer at the school’s medical and dental schools, and had previously worked in UCLA Student Health Services.

She is survived by husband Josef Istrin; sons Zachary, J.J. and Matthew Istrin; mother Selma Kurtzman; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled for today at

2 p.m. at Mount Sinai Memorial Park.

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