Kenneth, L. Kershbaum, 70, cardiologist

Kenneth L. Kershbaum, 70, of Washington Square, died Tuesday, March 19, at his home blocks from Pennsylvania Hospital, where he was born and later practiced internal medicine and cardiology for more than 40 years.

Dr. Kershbaum had battled lymphoma for two years.

"He is really, truly going to be missed by patients, colleagues, and friends," said Paul A.G. Cohen, one of about a half-dozen partners in a cardiology practice at 801 Spruce St. "He was always there for them."

Cohen said his colleague practiced in the careful, "old-fashioned way," sometimes following the same patients from the Philadelphia area and South Jersey for 40 years.

"He was a thorough doctor who cared, and the patients cared for him," Cohen said. "If there was a problem, he took care of it and got them to the surgeon, or whatever was needed."

A 1959 graduate of William Penn Charter School and a 1963 graduate of Cornell University, Dr. Kershbaum earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in 1967.

He served an internship and residency at Pennsylvania Hospital, and a fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Kershbaum spent his entire career at Pennsylvania Hospital, twice serving on its executive committee, and was on the board of the hospital's Cardiology Foundation for more than 20 years. In 1986, he was awarded the hospital's prestigious Viner Teaching Award.

Dr. Kershbaum also was an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania for almost four decades.

He had numerous peer-reviewed articles published in nationally recognized publications, including the American Heart Journal and Circulation, a publication of the American Heart Association.

"He tirelessly served his patients with devotion, empathy, meticulous attention to detail, and problem-solving acumen," said his daughter Sharon, who worked as a candy-striper in her father's office. "He took his time."

Dr. Kershbaum was a nationally ranked tennis player in his youth who played in the Boys U.S. National Tennis Championships in 1957. At 17, he became the youngest men's tennis champion in the history of the Philmont Country Club.

He was a member of the tennis and squash teams at Cornell University, and in the final months of his life was still playing tennis and teaching his grandchildren the tricks of wielding a racket.

He served on the board of directors for the Springside School in Philadelphia, which his daughters attended.

Dr. Kershbaum married the former Susan Sions on Christmas Day in 1965. They were friends in high school and began dating in college.

His wife joked that she picked the wedding day so Dr. Kershbaum would never forget their anniversary, the family said, and it worked.

In addition to his wife of 47 years and daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Kathy Evans; four grandchildren; his mother, Judith Kershbaum Jacobs; and two sisters. His father, Alfred Kershbaum, also a cardiologist, died earlier.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 24, at Joseph Levine & Sons, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose. Interment will follow in Roosevelt Memorial Park.

Donations may be made to the Joan Karnell Cancer Center of Pennsylvania Hospital, 230 W. Washington Square, Suite 102, Philadelphia 19106, or the Abramson Cancer Center, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia 19104.

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