By Gall Sigler
Gerald Escovitz, a retired professor of medicine and board member at Freire Charter School, died on May 29. He was 85.
Born and raised in Boston, Escovitz attended Boston Latin School, the oldest operating school in the United States. A lifelong fan of the Red Sox, Escovitz used to hang outside of Fenway Park with friends in his youth, hoping to catch fly balls.
Together with his best friend since he was 6, Paul Daum, Escovitz matriculated in Harvard University. Following graduation in 1958, they embarked on a motorcycle trip in Europe, which Karen Escovitz said in an email to the Jewish Exponent, “was the source of many stories, or maybe just a few that were told many times.”
Escovitz went on to receive his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate in Brooklyn.
Escovitz’s interest in medicine was entwined with a passion for education. In 1969, Escovitz became assistant professor and deputy director of the regional medical program at Jefferson Medical College, later the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University.
Escovitz later went on to work at the Medical College of Philadelphia for three decades as a doctor, professor and vice dean.
Escovitz’s dedication to education did not falter when he faced professional challenges. In 1994, the Medical School of Philadelphia and Hahnemann University merged into Allegheny University of the Health Sciences. Four years later, the school declared bankruptcy and was bought off by a corporation.
“I believe he was faced with hard choices about whether to stay in an environment that no longer demonstrated values he held as important. He did for a while, but ultimately left,” Karen Escovitz said.
Escovitz contributed to the field as a researcher as well. He co-authored numerous papers on medical education, health care and other related topics.
Escovitz’s retirement did not put an end to his resolve to contribute to the education field, on the contrary. Since 2001, Escovitz has served on the board of Freire Charter School in numerous capacities, including vice chair, treasurer and chair of the education committee. From 2014 to 2020, Escovitz served as chair of the board.
“He was able to use his experience as a medical school administrator to bring some much needed perspective and support to this developing school which is dedicated to college-prep level education for all — and primarily serves kids from the poorer communities in Philly. He was very proud of what they had accomplished and built,” Karen Escovitz said.
Escovitz oversaw 2,500 students graduating from Freire. In a meeting on June 9, the Freire board expressed its gratitude to Escovitz’s work.
“Gerry always believed in the right for every student to have the best, top-notch college prep education regardless of race, background, zip code or experience,” mentioned the meeting’s minutes.
Although Jewish observance was not stressed in the Escovitz household, the Jewish community was dear to Escovitz. “He was not religious, but strongly culturally Jewish,” Karen Escovitz said.
Escovitz grew up in a Reform household and was involved in the youth group NFTY as a teen. Years later, Karen was involved with the same movement, which she is certain “made him happy.”
In 1979, Escovitz spent six months in Israel, where he worked on medical education.
In recent years, Escovitz frequented Kol Nidre service with Karen Escovitz, who led her chavura community during High Holiday services for a few years. Karen Escovitz is not sure if he attended “for religious reasons or because he wanted to hear me sing.”
In his 60s, Escovitz decided to pursue another passion of his — classical music. He began singing in a classical choir. “His first efforts were pretty awful, but he improved quickly,” Karen Escovitz said.
Escovitz eventually performed with Vox Ama Deus, led by conductor Valentin Radu, at the Kimmel Center.
Besides his daughter Karen, Escovitz is survived by his wife, Francyn, and grandchildren.
Gall Sigler is an intern for the Jewish Exponent.
