Sheldon A. Steinberg, VMD, DMSc

March 24, 1935 – September 1, 2026

Dr. Sheldon A. Steinberg, VMD, DMSc, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 1, 2026, at the age of 91. A pioneering veterinary neurologist who spent nearly his entire career at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, he was among the small group of veterinarians who built neurology from a niche interest into a recognized clinical and academic specialty; a legacy that reached well beyond Penn's campus to colleagues across the world.

Shel was born on March 24, 1935, and raised in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles and Etta Steinberg. He attended Central High School, where he developed the intellectual curiosity and love of learning that would remain lifelong hallmarks of his character. It was in his youth that he met the love of his life. On weekends, he worked as a server for a local caterer, while a young woman named Bette (Betty) worked as a coat check. Their paths crossed one evening when he asked her to hold his schoolbooks behind her counter. This was the beginning of a courtship that led to a remarkable 69-year marriage.

He went on to Temple University before attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his VMD in 1959. In 1968, he returned to Penn's Graduate School of Medicine to earn a Doctor of Medical Science degree.

Shel joined the faculty at Penn Vet, where he would spend the whole of his professional life, eventually rising to Professor Emeritus of Neurology and serving as Chief of Neurology at Penn's Veterinary Hospital. Over the course of his career, he helped establish Penn's veterinary neurology program as one of the leading centers in the country. His research addressed epilepsy and seizure disorders, brain tumors, inherited neurologic disorders, and neurologic emergency care in companion animals, work still cited by specialists today. Many of the veterinary neurologists practicing now trace their training back to him, directly or through the residents he mentored.

Shel was among the internationally respected neurologists whose work and professional relationships helped support the growth of this specialty. In 1993 he was named one of only three American veterinarians selected as founding members of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN), specialists specifically invited to help establish a close liaison between European and American veterinary neurology. His regular participation in European Society of Veterinary Neurology (ESVN) scientific meetings and his collaborations with European colleagues reflected his role, throughout his career, as an

important bridge between American and European veterinary neurology. The ESVN, founded in 1985, laid the groundwork for the ECVN's creation in 1993 as the credentialing body for board-certified veterinary neurologists in Europe.

Well into his eighties, Shel also served on the Board of Directors of Resources for Human Development (RHD), a national human services nonprofit headquartered in Philadelphia. Founded in 1970 to provide value-driven, community-based human services, RHD grew over the decades into a multi-state organization supporting behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and addiction recovery services. As a volunteer board leader, he helped guide the organization's governance and mission throughout that growth.

Beyond his distinguished career, Shel found joy in simple pleasures and hands-on problem-solving. He was an avid reader whose curiosity about the world never diminished. His family and friends fondly remember the legendary smoked salmon he produced from a Rube Goldberg-esque smoker of his own design, a delicacy many believed could rival the finest delicatessens. A devoted member of his faith community, he regularly participated in Torah study, where his questions and interpretations, marked by intelligence, humility, and careful consideration, drew others to listen closely. In later years, he and Bette shared a love of music and community, singing together in their temple's mixed choir. His basement workshop, filled with woodworking equipment, was where he found his passion turning out bowls and vessels on the lathe. When he wasn't there, he could just as often be found soldering a leaky pipe, running new electrical wiring, or tackling whatever household project needed his attention.

Together, Shel and Bette raised their family in Havertown, Pennsylvania, where they lived for 59 years, before later moving to Bryn Mawr.

While Shel's professional accomplishments earned him international respect, those who knew and loved him will remember him most as a devoted husband, loving father, proud grandfather, loyal friend, thoughtful scholar, and gentle teacher. His legacy lives on not only in the generations of veterinary neurologists he trained, but also in the family he cherished, the friendships he nurtured, and the countless lives enriched by his wisdom, kindness, and generosity of spirit.

Shel is survived by his beloved wife, Bette Steinberg; his children, Lori Ehrich and Howard Steinberg (Ashley); and his grandchildren, Jordyn Ehrich, Jason Ehrich, and Ellie Steinberg.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services, Thursday, 1:30 PM precisely at Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Funeral Directors Suburban North, 310 2nd St. Pike, Southampton, PA.A livestream is available here Int. Shalom Mem. Park. Shiva will be observed at his late residence. Contributions in Shels’ memory may be made to University of PA, Ryan Veterinary Hospital, Dept. of Neurology, 3900 Spruce St., Phila., PA 19104 or to Main Line Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096, www.mlrt.org