Dr. Bernadette Loeb

Dr. Bernadette Ann (Herbst) Loeb, 76, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at her Upper Salford Township residence, where she had lived for the last 38 years. She was the wife of the late Bernard W. Loeb, Sr., who passed away in 1999.

Born May 20, 1938 in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Edward J. Herbst, II and the late Anna May (Taylor) Herbst, and was a 1955 graduate of Little Flower High School. She received her B.S. from Immaculata University in 1959, her M.S. in Cellular Physiology from St. John?s University in 1961, and her M.D. from Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1967. Her internship and residency were served at the Edward J. Meyer Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, NY, 1968-1970. During her third year, she served as chief resident of Neurology, the first woman to hold this position. During her last year in medical school, Dr. Loeb was awarded an internship at Columbia University Burn Unit.

Dr. Loeb served as a practicing neurologist at Medical College of Philadelphia 1968-1977, where she also served as assistant professor of Neurology. She was staff neurologist at Eastern State Penitentiary and Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital, 1965-1968. From 1977-1995, she practiced with Dr. Greg Lignelli, M.D., at Tri-County Neurosurgery. During this time, she also was an active staff member of Pottstown Memorial Hospital until retirement in 1995.

Dr. Loeb received an award for excellence in medicine in 1967 by Army Navy Union of New York. She was named in The Marquis Who?s Who Pulications Board 1975-1976 and was awarded the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Student Research Award and medal by Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals. She was published many times in various publications for her extensive research in the medical field.

Dr. Loeb was a member of Church of St. Mary, Schwenksville. She served as president of the Bernard W. & Bernadette H. Loeb Foundation for many years. She was an associate benefactor of The 1920 Society, Immaculata University, and was a member of The American Medical Society, The Philadelphia Neurological Society, and The American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Loeb was also s speaker and benefactor for the former Wellness Place of Lansdale.

A musician, she played the oboe in the high school and college orchestras, and the piano. Dr. Loeb was finally able to realize her life-long passion for horses in college. Learning the sport as a physical education elective, she taught horseback riding during college at the long-gone Mon Ami La Cheval under Dorothy Henderson-Pinch. It is there that she received the opportunity to foxhunt with Radnor Hunt as well as with her private pack during it?s heyday on the Main Line. Upon Mrs. Pinch?s untimely death, Dr. Loeb published the well-known child rider?s book, ?Happy Horsemanship,? for her. Dr. Loeb was a philanthropist, avid bibliophile, and classical music aficionado. She enjoyed spending summers in Sea Isle City, NJ.

Surviving are three daughters, Josephine Ann Sabillon of Pittsburgh, Marsha Schrader and her husband, Anthony, of Havertown, and Martha Cullen of Ambler; two sons, Franklin Loeb and his wife, Cathy, of Green Lane, and Bernardo W. Loeb, Jr. of Tavernier, FL and Exeter; two beloved brothers, Joseph A. Herbst and his wife, Rosemary, of Turnersville, NJ, and Edward J. Herbst, III of Bristol; 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Little Flower High School, 1000 Lycoming Ave., Phila. PA 19140, Attn: Sr. Donna Shallo; Immaculata University, 1145 King Rd., P. O. Box 733, Immaculata, PA 19345-0733, Attn: Sr. Rita O?Leary; Community Music School, 775 W. Main St., Trappe, PA 19426, Attn: Jeffrey Cassano; Covenant House, 461 Eighth Ave., NY, NY 10001, Attn: Kevin Ryan; Drexel University College of Medicine, Drexel University Office of Institutional Advancement, 3141 Chestnut St. Suite 310, Phila. PA.19104; or to St. Joseph?s Indian School, Chamberlain, SD, 57326, Attn: Fr. Stephen Huffstetter.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass at 11AM on Saturday, November 1, at Church of St. Mary, 40 Spring Mount Rd., Schwenksville. Burial will be priavte at Riverside Cemetery in Norristown. Friends may call for the viewing from 6-8PM on Friday night, and on Saturday from 9-10AM at the R. L. Williams, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., 3440 Skippack Pike @ Cedars Rd., Skippack. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.RLWilliamsFuneralHome.com.