Marshall A. Bernstein, 87, a Philadelphia lawyer who also lectured

Marshall A. Bernstein, 87, of Society Hill, a Philadelphia lawyer who was a lecturer at area law schools, died Tuesday, March 19, at his home of complications from a fall.

Mr. Bernstein, who practiced law in Philadelphia for 45 years, was rated as one of the 100 best plaintiff's trial lawyers in the country by the Inner Circle of Advocates, a national select lawyers group.

He specialized in civil litigation, personal injury, and medical malpractice cases. Mr. Bernstein was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and many other organizations.

Mr. Bernstein was a professor and lecturer at the law schools of Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Villanova University.

"He was one of the finest and most honorable trial lawyers of his time in Philadelphia, and also one of the most successful," said U.S. District Judge Thomas O'Neill. "He was a role model for many younger lawyers in the profession.

"He was just a couple years older than me, but he took me under his wing when I was a young lawyer, and I have never forgotten how kind he was to me," O'Neill said.

Marshall Abraham Bernstein was born Dec. 9, 1925, the son of Robert and Edith Bernstein. He was raised in Melrose Park and Huntingdon Valley.

He graduated from George School in 1943. Mr. Bernstein earned a bachelor of arts degree from Penn in 1946 and graduated from Penn's law school in 1949.

In 1941, while working as a Sunday school tutor at Congregation Adath Jeshurun, then in Philadelphia, Mr. Bernstein met a student, Gladys Bliss. They married in 1947.

After law school, Mr. Bernstein went to work at his father's Center City law office. Their firm was Bernstein & Bernstein.

"He was very active in the Jewish community, both at the synagogue and the community at large," said his daughter, Susan Gordon.

Mr. Bernstein was active in the Federation of Jewish Agencies. He was on several of the group's committees and was a trustee.

He was a past president and member of the board of trustees of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park.

Joseph Yohlin, a fellow lawyer, longtime family friend, and Adath Jeshurun congregant, described Mr. Bernstein as "an individual of the highest character. For me he was a mentor in a professional sense, and he was a lawyer who was a counselor. Fewer and fewer lawyers today are counselors."

Mr. Bernstein, who retired in 1994, also kept a home in Longboat Key, Fla.

His daughter said Mr. Bernstein was an avid sports fan. "He loved golf and tennis, and he was crazy about the Eagles and Phillies," she said.

He attended Phillies preseason games in Clearwater, Fla., and Yankees games in Tampa.

Mr. Bernstein enjoyed the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera, his daughter said.

O'Neill said Mr. Bernstein "was respected by his opponents, which is a great sign of integrity."

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Bernstein is survived by another daughter, Dena; a son, Jonathan; four grandchildren; and a sister.

A funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Congregation Adath Jeshurun, 7763 Old York Rd., Elkins Park. Interment will be in Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, Philadelphia.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.levinefuneral.com.