Bertram M. Bernstein, medical director

Dr. Bertram M. Bernstein, 91, formerly of Trenton, retired medical director of the New Jersey Department of Human Services and professor of physical and rehabilitation medicine at Hahnemann University, died of Parkinson's disease Tuesday at his son's home in Hackensack, N.J.

Dr. Bernstein served as medical director from 1951 until retiring in 1984.

While in that position he was also consultant in physical medicine at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, N.J.; founding chairman of the physical medicine and rehabilitation department at the former McKinley Hospital in Trenton; director of restorative services at Donnelly Hospital in Trenton; medical director of United Cerebral Palsy of Middlesex County; medical director of the Delaware Valley Rehabilitation Center in Trenton; and a faculty member for more than 20 years at Hahnemann University Medical School.

He had a particular interest in medical-insurance issues, his son, Richard, a physician and health-care consultant, said. In 1970, Dr. Bernstein initiated New Jersey's Medicaid program to provide state- and federally funded medical insurance to low-income individuals and families.

A native of West Philadelphia, Dr. Bernstein graduated from Trenton Central High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a medical degree from Hahnemann University.

During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a flight surgeon at bases in the United States. His experience treating wounded veterans who required rehabilitation influenced his choice of a medical specialty, his son said. Dr. Bernstein completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Bellevue Hospital in New York. He also completed a National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis fellowship at Warm Spring, Ga., and did graduate work at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and at Cook County Graduate School of Medicine in Chicago.

After he retired, Dr. Bernstein and his wife, Evelyn "Hinda" Weinstein Bernstein, lived in Sarasota, Fla. He enjoyed swimming and listening to classical music.

In addition to his son, Dr Bernstein is survived by a daughter, Carol Soble; a sister; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. His wife of 47 years died in 1988.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Orland's Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Rd., Trenton. Donations may be made to Capital Health System Foundation, 408 Bellevue Ave., Trenton, N.J. 08618.