There aren't enough great things to say about Andy Weinstein.
Andrew G. Weinstein MD was born in Philadelphia, PA to George L. Weinstein MD and Ruth Siedel Weinstein of Bala Cynwyd, PA, and the younger brother of Robert S. Weinstein MD. As a boy who spent summers with his family in Long Beach Island, NJ, he learned to sail and play tennis which remained two of his great passions.
Andy attended Friends Central School, followed by a full academic scholarship to Swarthmore College graduating with a BS in 1969. At Swarthmore, Andy was a member of Sigma Xi, and played varsity football and was captain of the tennis team. He earned his medical degree in 1973 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He later became the Chief Pediatric Resident at Hahnemann Hospital of Philadelphia, completed a fellowship in Pediatric Allergy at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and spent two years training in Family Therapy at Philadelphia Child Guidance. Andy's professional certifications included the American Board of Pediatrics, The American Board of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and as a trainer in Motivational Interviewing. Andy searched for meaningful ways to practice medicine, and he trained with Peggy Papp and Salvador Minuchin from whom he learned how to engage the entire family not just the patient.
In 1977, Andy met Melinda Hessan of Philadelphia, PA , who he married in 1979 and they remained married for nearly 42 years. He was the beloved father to Abbey Heather Samet and Robyn Weinstein, with whom he enjoyed many Phillies games on school nights, cross country skiing trips, summers in Maine, and Capriotti's subs. Andy always remained a sailor, and he named his boat the "Melinda Lu" after his wife. Melinda always joked that he loved the boat more than her, but he would never agree.
During his 35-year career as a practicing allergist with Asthma & Allergy Care of Delaware, Andy treated thousands of patients and published more than 30 articles focused on medication adherence in severe asthmatics. Andy also served as President of the Pennsylvania Allergy Association and was a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, The American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, the Medical Society of Delaware, Delaware Asthma and Allergy Society.
In addition to his wife and daughters, Andy is survived by his son-in-law Matt Goldich, and his four grandchildren, Alex and Astrid "Gigi" Pappanicholas, and Graham and Sylvie Goldich. He was a devoted grandfather who loved sharing his passion for learning with his grandchildren. His grandson Alex lovingly nicknamed him "Grandpa Sailboat" at age one and a half, and Graham always looked forward to "Grandpa Time." All of his grandchildren loved his unpredictable and sometimes strange sense of humor.
If you would like to donate to a charity in memory of Andy, we are suggesting Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.