Dr. Harold David Bornstein, Jr., a well-known and beloved pediatrician, died peacefully while in the care of The Whitney Center in Hamden CT on June 1st. He was 95 years of age. He practiced medicine in North Haven for forty-five years, beginning in 1953. Many of his former patients brought their children to his care, which in some families extended to four generations. He continued to make house calls long after the practice was no longer common. He was on the staff at both Yale-New Haven Hospital and The Hospital of St. Raphael. He was the medical adviser for the North Haven school system, and served as the doctor on hand at North Haven High School football games for decades. He also served on the North Haven Board of Education in the 1960s.
Dr. Bornstein was born August 25, 1924 in Brookline, MA to Harold and Stella (Abrams) Bornstein. He matriculated at Oberlin College in fall 1941, but dropped out in December of that year to enlist in the US Air Corps, volunteering to serve in the Medical Corps. When he returned to civilian life after serving in Europe, he enrolled at the University of Chicago. After receiving his B.S. degree in 1948 and M.S. degree in 1949, he continued his education at Yale Medical School, where he earned his M.D. in 1953.
After retiring in 1997 Dr. Bornstein continued to contribute to the community in many ways, since to him, medicine was a calling, more than a job. He was a consultant to the City of New Haven Health Dept. He served as a medical consultant to administrative law judges for the Social Security Administration. He was the founder and attending pediatric physician of the Winchester Pediatric Chest Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital for decades, continuing his duties there even after retirement, retiring from there only last year. He took an active part in the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine for years, serving as vice president from 2007-2009 and president from 2009-2011. In addition to all his service to Yale Medical School, his alma mater, Class of 1953, he was involved with The Hospital of St. Raphael, not only as an educator, but even in small ways, such as serving as a greeter at public functions.
Dr. Bornstein was also active in local philanthropy. He and his late second wife, Maureen, created scholarship funds at Yale School of Medicine and Southern Connecticut State University, her alma mater. He helped fund the Global Clinical Electives Program at Yale, which enabled students to study abroad, and the HAVEN Free Clinic. His love and support of music was expressed in several ways. He donated to the Yale Philharmonia. He coordinated monthly concerts at the Whitney Center, bringing Yale Music School students and members of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to play for the residents. His generosity in support of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra led to him being the first recipient of the English Family Inspirational Giving Award, with a world premiere concert in his honor in December 2019. He established more than 50 gift annuities, which he used to fund succeeding ones, much as the hundreds of spider plants he was known for giving had started from a single plant and spread across the community.
Dr. Bornstein had three sons by his first wife, Toby (Sampson); he is survived by two: Daniel (Jane), a professor at Washington University in St. Louis MO, and Steve, a musician in Key West FL. His third son, Peter (Amy Deveau), of Ridgefield CT and New York, NY, passed away in 2011. He also leaves his “adopted” son, Kenneth Manning, a professor at MIT, of Cambridge MA, his two grandchildren, Laura (Brad) McFarland, of Kansas City MO and Sage, of New York, NY, and his dear friends Lauri LaBonia of East Haven, CT, and Carroll Ryan of Branford, CT.
A private graveside service will be held in All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Avenue, North Haven. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Bornstein Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. 203-777-2386 ContactUs@cfgnh.org
My Deep Condolences to his family. We was such a amazing man with a great wardrobe. I’m a staff member at the Whitney Center it was a pleasure knowing him. I will miss our talks and his kind words.
Thank you for sharing him with us!!!
My condolences to the family at this time. Dr Bornstein was our family pediatrician growing up. A wonderful man.
To the family and friends of my prayers for comfort and peace to be with you at this difficult time in the passing of your love ones.
I was Dr Harold driver I will truly miss our conversations about how much he loved and cherished his family and friend.
We have truly lost a a legend in our lives but our memories of joy that he leaves will never end.đš
Love And Miss You Dr Harold Bornstein
Doctor “Uncle” Hal, as our girls affectionately called him, was a good friend to our family. He will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his family. Love you, Hal.
Rest in Peace, Doctor Bornstein, my pediatrician since birth (1953) and my 5 brothers and sister; the pediatrician for my own children. All those house calls, the most welcoming, comforting waiting room on earth complete with fish tank and Mrs. King watching over all. An incredible life. For many years I have signed all important documents with a fountain pen with green ink – as my own private testament to Doctor Bornstein. May God grant him glory.
What a meaningful life.
Dr Bornstein was our pediatrician growing up like many children in North Haven. In 1974 when our father died suddenly, leaving our family without an income and my mother with three sons, 6, 9, and 10 years old, Dr Bornstein told my mother that she didn’t have to pay her bills for our care and can start again when she was ready and had a source of income. This was a significant gift, as my older brother had severe asthma and needed special care.
I also recall that right after my father died, he sat me and my older brother down in his examination room and explained, with a model of a heart, what happened to him. We listened, asked questions, and he gently demystified a scary and painful event. He assured us our father’s heart attack was sudden and he did not suffer.
A good man.
Thank you Dr Bornstein for you care and generosity.
My sincere sympathy for your loss. Dr. Bornstein was my pediatrician when I was born in 1958. I remember my Mom saying he told her, âNever put anything smaller than an elbow in her ear.â Iâm not sure why that stuck with me, but it did! May your memories bring you comfort during this difficult time.
My condolences to Dr. Bornsteinâs family. I was privileged to know Dr. Bornstein as I served as the librarian at North Haven High School. He would visit often and would drop off cards, notepads, calendars that he had collected from his mail. After the passing of his beloved wife, he suggested to his cousin Joe to contribute funds to the library in her memory. Dr. Bornstein would share stories of his youth with me, he led such an interesting life. I will miss our talks and his yearly letter. He was a very special man.
He was my pediatrician and I remember going to him as a kid. He took good care of many kids in North Haven. He will be deeply missed by many generations of people for the work and care he gave to the community.
My condolences go out to the family at this time of need.
What a special individual he was. I will miss reading his holiday messages that he shared with so many. We had some wonderful conversations over the years. He was such a generous individual, who supported many organizations that were close to his heart. I take comfort in knowing that he is reunited with Maureen who he cherished and missed immensely. My deepest condolences to the family. He will be missed by all of us here at Whitney Center.
Dr. Bernstein was my pediatrician. He was a kindly, compassionate, wonderful man. He always remembered me whenever he might see me at a football game or wherever else. My deepest condolences to his family know that the world was a better place with him in it. Too bad that
people canât live forever because he would be one who youâd want to do just that.đ˘
My condolences go out to Dr. Bornstein’s family, he was my son Daniel’s Pediatrician about 25 yrs. ago. Dr. Bornstein was such a kind & wonderful man. He had the right interest in children, his manner was impeccable,
RIP Dr. â¤ď¸. Candia Lord
Sincere sympathy to the Bornstein Family on the death of Hal. .He was a very special Person as was His Wife (my cousin) Maureen .I will miss him. He was great to keep up contact with his regular letters and cards. Rest in peace Hal
My deepest sympathy to Halâs family. Have fond memories of both Hal and my cousin Maureen when they visited Ireland. May they both rest in peace.
To all The Bornstein Family we offer our sincere condolences on Hal’s passing.May he rest in peace.
Our condolences to Halâs family on their great loss. We have a history with him from him being my younger sister Sheryl Thompsonâs doctor to being our friend socially with his dear wife Maureen. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful plants he maintained in his greenhouse at home and his slides from the many wonderful trips he and Maureen enjoyed together. He will be missed, for sure. Maryann and Jack Dolan and Norma Thompson
Sincere sympathy to the Bornstein family on the death of Hal. He was truly a great man. He continued to keep in touch with us after the passing of our cousin Maureen, and will be always fondly remembered. May he rest in peace.
Such profound sadness is brought by the news of Dr. Bornstein’s passing. He was a wonderful pediatrician and friend who gave of himself without reserve. It was an honor to be in continual touch for all these years, long after my own children were grown. And what a joy to have lunch with him just a few months ago; we talked for hours! I am grateful for the care he gave my children and for the friendship that has endured for well over a half century. He was loved and will be missed so very much. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Sincere sympathy on the passing of Hal. We remember fondly, Hal and Maureen’s visits to Ireland. He was a kind and caring man. Ar dheis DĂŠ go raibh a anam dĂlis.
Sincere sympathy to all the Bornstein Family on the death of Dr Hal. Eternal rest to Him, Maureen, and Peter.May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen.
I heard of Dr. Bornstein’s passing from my Mother, Susan McGowan, who has kept in touch with him all these years since my brothers and I have grown. I have such fond memories of my checkups with Dr. Bornstein, from the lollipops, reams of fabulous drawing (exam table) paper and his awesome turquoise fountain pen ink! Being a pediatric physician myself, he was quite the role model…in a league of his own, really. My deepest sympathy to his family on the loss of an amazing human being who will be truly missed.
My deepest condolences to Dr. Bornstein’s family. Doctor Bornstein was my pediatrician (I was born in 1956) and he often came to our home back in the days when doctors still did home visits. I remember him fondly. May he rest in eternal peace.
I remember him well . A great first doctor fo a newly transplant five year old from New Haven. Stayed with him until Seventeen. Along with my brother Paul.
Remember house calls a couple of time fo the flu or mumps.
He was the best as I used to compare his physicals to other classmates who saw a different physician and he surpassed them all in detail and comprehensive
A great man, Thank you
Philip A Bengtson
I remember meeting Dr. Bornstein as a first year med student at YSM. He was in cheerful red pants and his wife, Maureen, by his side. It was sweet that they were always together. They were remarkably kind at YSM events and invited students to their annual post-Thanksgiving dinners. I can only hope to be that sharp and energetic in my older years; it’s impressive Dr. Bornstein still saw patients in his early 90’s. He was similarly gracious on the other side of the medical encounter, when I happened to be part of a hospital team caring for Maureen. My wife and I last got to spend time with Dr. Bornstein at the Whitney Center and graduation in 2016.
May both Mrs. and Dr. Bornstein rest in peace. What great examples of a life well-lived!
Dr. Bornstein cared for my children. He was always kind and thorough and went to great lengths to keep them healthy. Their “baby books” still have his written-in-fountain-ink notes of their checkups. And when the best medical science of the day could not save my 5 year old, the great doctor was also a great gentleman. His warm and caring hug at my son’s funeral was just what a young mother needed. I’m sure he knew that. He continued to care for my daughter to adulthood and the next generation as well. Learning of his passing has brought back a surge of emotion. My condolences to his family. Be assured, he has earned his place in heaven.
He was the greatest Doctor North Haven has ever seen! He and Maureen were extremely close to mom and dad and spent many times together. I have not been back to North Haven since dad passed in 2017 as that was the last time I saw the Doc! He was loved by many especially the football players and he will be missed. My faith tells me He, Maureen, Mom and Dad and the Donovanâs are all together again! God bless his family, there will never another Doc Bernstein! He was special!