‘Inspirational’ former Sheffield GP turned talented photographer and accomplished musician dies, aged 70

Paul Schatzberger, from Walkley, died of kidney cancer on December 29, with his wife and children beside him.

Born in Manchester to parents who were Austrian Jewish refugees, Paul came to Sheffield in 1983 after medical training in London.

Three strong strands ran through his adult life - medicine, music and photography - and in each one he made a strong contribution to the life of the city.

Paul had always wanted to become a GP and worked for many years at Birley Health Centre.

Former GP Dilys Noble described him as a ‘mentor and good friend’, an ‘inspirational’ colleague who was ‘passionate’ about improving primary care.

After working for a time in public health, Paul returned to general practice and worked at Upwell Street Surgery where he was a partner for six years.

Fellow GP Jo Cannon described him as a ‘funny, entertaining, supportive colleague’.

“His dry humour, calmness under pressure, creativity and artistic talents made him a joy to work with,” she said.

After leaving clinical work, Paul worked as lead GP and medical director for north Sheffield until he retired in 2007.

In this role he made an important contribution to improving the health of some of the poorest communities in the city and also championed the development of drug and alcohol treatment services in primary care.

After retiring, Paul's attention turned to fine art photography and music.

Much of what he captured with his camera drew on his medical experience, including a series of images of inner-city Sheffield, aspects of the health service in Cuba and a series on death and dying.

Paul gained many accolades and his work in private collections, both in the UK and internationally, is a lasting tribute to his skill, compassion and vision. He was a regular exhibitor in the Open Studios and Art in the Gardens events in Sheffield.

Karen Sherwood, from the Cupola Gallery in Hillsborough, said they had the pleasure of exhibiting Paul’s photos over many years.

“His photographs were of the highest quality, both with regard to his chosen subjects and the care with which he chose to present his pieces,” she said.

“His work was always strong, yet tender and often with a powerful gaze, very like the man himself.”

As well as photography, Paul was also a keen violinist, performing regularly in orchestras and chamber ensembles.

He found most enjoyment in collaborating with others and contributed greatly to Sheffield’s music scene, including in the Hallam Sinfonia, and successfully merged two facets of his life as a member of the unique European Doctors’ Orchestra, where he performed in major concert halls across the continent.

Even Covid-19 could not prevent Paul from ‘performing’, and he participated in virtual ensembles as recently as the autumn.

His musical life transcended genres including experimental styles of folk and jazz as well as classical music, and he would often play his accordion at gatherings and celebrations.

Paul leaves his parents, wife, children and grandchildren, and many other family members and close friends.

A small funeral will take place later this week while donations can be made to musical charity Jessie’s Fund at https://jessiesfund.org.uk.

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