Benjamin Serota

Our wonderful husband, father and grandfather, Benjamin Serota, 90, of Boynton Beach, Fla. passed away on March 31, 2014. Ben was born on Dec. 10, 1923 to the late Abraham and Sarah Lerman Serota in Philadelphia, Pa. He was preceded in death by his brother, Louis Serota, and sister, Claire Serota Boxman. In 1946, Ben married the love of his life, our mother Shirley Weyman. They were married for 68 years, rarely leaving each other's side.
Ben is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, and three children, Joan Serota Schwartz and husband, Lee, of Philadelphia, Pa., Murray Serota and wife, Cherie, of Hollywood, Fla., and Jill Serota Braden and husband, Jeff, of Raleigh, N.C. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Stephanie Schwartz Moats, Brian Schwartz, Rachel and Daniel Braden, and Jason, Jared and Justin Lavoie, as well as two great-grandchildren.
Ben's father and mother escaped the programs of Russia and fled with their two older children across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean to the golden land-America. Separated for eight years during the Russian Revolution and World War I, his parents at last reunited in Philadelphia and the result of that reunion was Ben. As the only one in his family born in America, Ben was special. And although he was raised in a row house with no central heating or plumbing, he eagerly embraced his American identity and rose to own a home in the suburbs and later a tall, elegant townhouse in Center City Philadelphia.
Ben graduated in 1945 with a B.S. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and received a D.O. in 1950 from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He worked in private practice as a general practitioner making house calls until 1970, when he became staff physician at the Philadelphia VA Hospital. In both jobs, he was well known as a compassionate and caring doctor.
In 1975, heeding the military's need for doctors, Ben enlisted in the Air Force. He was made a full colonel and served his country at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla. and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He returned to Philadelphia and civilian life in 1979 and continued to work as staff physician at the Philadelphia VA until his retirement in 1993.
Ben was a lifelong sports fan. The Philadelphia Phillies always came first, but he loved watching the Eagles, 76ers and later, in Boynton Beach, the Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins. He was proud to be present with Joan at Veterans Stadium when the Phillies won the 1980 World Series.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Oveita Dalley, whom we love more than words can say. Her loving care and assistance helped Ben remain as independent as he could be in his later years. We also appreciate the care and support of caregivers at Karing Nurses, as well as Hospice of Palm Beach County, especially Rabbi Geoff Botnick.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 4 at 1 p.m. at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks Funeral Home, 6410 N. Broad St., Phila., Pa. 19126 with burial following at Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown. Donations in memory of Ben may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.