Dr. Darryl Aarons, 71, family physician
Dr. Darryl H. Aarons earned his professional reputation as a family physician in Voorhees before retiring in 2001 and moving to Wellington, Fla., in 2002.
Dr. Darryl H. Aarons earned his professional reputation as a family physician in Voorhees before retiring in 2001 and moving to Wellington, Fla., in 2002.
But among friends there, he was better known as a fully grown expert in the youngsters' game of stickball.
"He's in the hall of fame of our stickball league, in Wellington," said a friend of more than 30 years, Allen Lebowitz.
Dr. Aarons was a shortstop, Lebowitz said, on the team appropriately named the Wycliffe Stiffs.
On Friday, April 8, Dr. Aarons, 71, formerly of Marlton, died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Wellington.
Lebowitz, a former Bell Telephone director of corporate strategy and development, lived in the same neighborhood as Dr. Aarons, both in Marlton and in Wellington.
"He was our family doctor," Lebowitz said. "He loved everything Philadelphia."
And when you spoke football with him, "you had to say, 'Iggles,' or forget it."
Dr. Aarons grew up in Philadelphia and Montgomery County and graduated from Upper Moreland High School in 1962.
He earned a bachelor's in 1967 and a doctorate in 1977, both at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, a sister, Sherryl Mustin, said.
But when he decided on a career change, he graduated from what is now the University of Osteopathic Medicine and the Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1979.
Dr. Aarons had chosen to become a physician, his sister said, because he wanted to work more closely with people's problems.
Though retired, she said, he became a volunteer physician once a week for 13 years at a clinic in Boynton Beach for migrant workers and uninsured patients.
Dr. Aarons is survived by wife Marcy; sons Lee Aarons and Dr. Chad Aarons; daughters Mandy Samson and Dr. Jodi Levy; two sisters; and six grandchildren.
A visitation was set from 9:15 a.m. Monday, April 11, at Platt Memorial Chapels, 2001 Berlin Rd., Cherry Hill, before a 10 a.m. funeral there, with interment in Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown.
Donations may be sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.plattmemorial.com.
610-313-8134 @WNaedele