Martin G. Binder, 81, doctor

Martin George Binder, 81, a retired obstetrician and gynecologist, died Monday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at Wellington Terrace at Hershey's Mill in West Chester. He formerly lived in West Bradford Township.

Dr. Binder established an office in Coatesville in 1960 and later relocated to Exton. For 34 years, he delivered babies in Chester County and was on the staff of Coatesville Hospital, now Brandywine Hospital, and Chester County Hospital. He was also affiliated with Paoli Hospital.

"He loved his family, his patients, and his office staff," said his wife, Lorna Cohen Binder. During his recent illness, she said, he made eight trips to the hospital by ambulance. Each time the ambulance was staffed by one or more paramedics he had delivered who assured the doctor they would take good care of him.

Dr. Binder grew up on Pine Street in what is now Society Hill and graduated from Central High School. He attended Villanova University before being drafted during World War II. He served in the Army Medical Corps in Okinawa after V-J Day.

After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova and a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed residencies in obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and Albert Einstein Medical Center, Northern Division, in Philadelphia and practiced at Einstein before opening an office in Chester County.

Dr. Binder and his wife met on a blind date and married in 1952. For years they lived in a 1742 farmhouse on three acres he planted with flowers and vegetables. He and his wife moved to Hershey's Mill when he retired in 1994.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Binder is survived by sons Eric and Ira; a daughter, Suzanne Green; a brother; a sister; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Kesher Israel Synagogue, 1000 Pottstown Pike, Exton.

Memorial donations may be made to Paoli Hospital, 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli, Pa. 19301-1792.