Dr. David Epstein, 57, family-medicine chief

DR. DAVID Epstein never wanted to stop learning.

And it didn't matter where the learning came from - sacred Jewish texts, medical literature or the mind of a child.

"He was open to learn from everybody, even children," said his daughter-in-law, Baila Epstein. "He appreciated everybody. He respected everybody."

David Epstein, the highly regarded chief of family medicine at Lankenau Hospital and teacher and role model for young people coming into medicine, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 57 and lived in Merion.

David was also active in the Jewish community of Philadelphia and the Main Line as leader, teacher and physician.

"David was an exemplary family physician and was one of the finest people I have ever known," said Dr. Kay Kerr, chairwoman of the family-medicine department at Bryn Mawr Hospital, with which David also was associated.

"He provided outstanding care for his patients in the office and in the hospital at both Lankenau and Bryn Mawr. He was beloved by his patients and very dedicated to his religious community and his family.

"David was an energetic, sensitive, thoughtful, intelligent person whose concern for others was genuine."

Add to that "integrity, honesty, professionalism and devotion," accolades provided by longtime friend Fredric "Rick" Goldfein.

"He was one of the most giving and warmest people you would ever want to know," Goldfein said. "He was a great friend to his friends, to his patients and to his students.

"He was the kind of person you wanted to be close to. He was devoted to his family. He always wanted to be with them. They were always together."

Goldfein, a Philadelphia lawyer, also referred to David's love of learning: "He had a tremendous passion for learning. He was always studying something, medical literature, Jewish sacred texts, whatever."

David and his family made trips to Israel and, shortly before he became ill, the Canadian Rockies. But, basically, he was a homebody when he wasn't with his patients or his students.

"He was so proud of the accomplishments of his children," Baila Epstein said. "He made them feel that they were the most special people in the world to him. Truly, he was the best father."

In the Jewish community, David was former chairman of the education committee of Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia, president of the Philadelphia Community Kollel (an institute for advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature), a member of Lower Merion Synagogue and Young Israel of the Main Line.

He also was active with the Philadelphia Yeshiva, serving in lay leadership and as physician to the students, who didn't hesitate to go to his home day and night, knowing that he always was there for them.

David was born in Lancaster, Ohio, to Morton and Lila Epstein, of Cleveland.

He was a cum laude graduate of Harvard University and received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein Medical School, in New York. He completed his family-medicine residency at Jefferson University Hospital.

"I had the privilege of working with him when he first came to Bryn Mawr in 1989 as associate director of the Family Medicine Residency program," said Dr. Kay Kerr.

"He was an outstanding role model and teacher for residents."

In 1993, David went into private practice and became one of the first family practitioners on Lankenau's staff. He served as chief of family-medicine service at Lankenau for more than 10 years.

He was in private practice in Ardmore with Dr. Sue Sandler and Dr. David Battaglia until his death. He still was seeing patients three weeks before he died.

He married the former Cheryl Rabinovici on Aug. 22, 1976.

Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by two sons, Dov and Daniel Epstein; three daughters, Tamar Epstein, Chava Goldschmidt and Yael Cortell; two sisters, Vicki Frolich and Adele Aronson; and seven grandchildren.

Services: Were Wednesday in Beit Shemesh, Israel.