H eadlines
to the PMS House of Delegates,
according to Eileen Ryan, the
PCMS director, membership
and programming.

He received the PCMS
Cristol Award in 1999, “which is
given to a physician member for
their dedication and exceptional
contribution to the Society,
furthering and enhancing
the educational, scientific and
charitable goals, purposes
and functions of organized
medicine,” Ryan wrote.

Eskin began a private practice
in 1959, delivering babies in
multiple hospitals for more than
40 years. He was a surgeon and
an early adopter of laser tools.

He also worked with
Planned Parenthood in North
Philadelphia, made home visits
through the late 1970s and
participated in bridal fairs,
where he counseled couples and
handed out “Love Carefully”
buttons. “The thing I most admired
about my dad was his willing-
ness to go against what the rest
of the world was thinking,”
Catherine Eskin said. “He
often had conflicts with some
groups because of his [belief in
a] right to choose.”
“Your dad was a hero and true
gentlemen that will be missed
by so many including myself ...

our condolences to your family
and mom,” PCMS Executive
Director Mark C. Austerberry
wrote in an email to Catherine
Eskin. “We will certainly recog-
nize and celebrate the many
achievements he did for not
only physicians but organized
medicine and the human race!
He always thought and fought
for the underdog!”
Aside from his medical
interests, Eskin nurtured a
lifelong passion for classical
music and jazz.

“He took me to a bar when I
was 7 to hear some jazz music
when his buddies were in
town,” Catherine Eskin said.

“My dad was a pretty cool guy.”
Eskin grew up in Atlantic
City, where he was first chair in
violin and viola in the All-Star
Orchestra. He also played the
clarinet and saxophone from
an early age, landing his first
paying gig at 11 or 12. He
played about 40 shows with
jazz bandleader Stan Kenton in
the summer of 1942.

A musical highlight occurred
two years later when, while a
16-year-old student at Princeton
University — he graduated high
school at 15 — he played viola in
a quartet with Albert Einstein.

“It was probably one of the
most thrilling moments of his
life,” Catherine Eskin said.

During a World War II
Navy stint, Eskin played in an
officer’s club band and formed
a band in Albany to support
himself while in medical
school. After the war, he
completed his undergraduate
Name: Leisure Care LLC
Width: 9.25 in
Depth: 5.5 in
Color: Black plus one
Comment: JE/CPATO
Ad Number: 00092900
New year,
new home.

Bernie Eskin (front row, third from right) as a youth performing in a jazz
orchestra studies at Rutgers University.

In the Philadelphia area,
he joined a doctors’ orchestra,
spending 30 years there and
serving as its president. He
later joined the Main Line
Symphony Orchestra and the
Lower Merion Symphony.

Bernie and Lynn Eskin were
members of Har Zion Temple
in Penn Valley and frequent
travelers. One of their highlights was
meeting Princess Grace of
Monaco. Grace Kelly was born
in East Falls and her family
was involved with Women’s
Medical College. Catherine
Eskin believes her father met
Kelly at some point through
the hospital and, before a
European vacation in the
mid-1960s, he wrote her asking
if they could visit. She agreed,
inviting them for tea.

Eskin is survived by his wife,
Lynn; three children, Gregg
Eskin (Esther Cohen), JoAnne
Sutkin (Steve) and Catherine
Eskin (Michael Barickman);
and seven grandchildren. l
agotlieb@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0797
Ring in the New Year by saying “bye-bye”
to housework and “hello” to doing your
own thing. Whether it’s socializing, traveling,
exercising, or just relaxing, you can have your
style of fun at The Landing of Towamencin.

Call 215.395.6862 to schedule your
complimentary lunch and tour.

Ask about our January incentive!
900 Towamencin Ave • Lansdale
215.395.6862 • TheLandingOfTowamencin.com
A LEISURE CARE PERSONAL CARE & MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
JANUARY 14, 2021
9