Jeffrey Bechler M.D.

Jeffrey Bechler, MD, of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, December 29, 2022, due to cancer at the age of 63. Jeff grew up in California and attended Palos Verdes High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball, and met the love of his life, Mary, at a high school dance. He then attended Dartmouth College, majoring in economics and playing baseball. Jeff went on to earn his medical degree from New York Medical College, completed his internship and residency at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. After three years practicing orthopaedics in San Diego following his fellowship, Jeff and Mary moved to Princeton in 1996, where Jeff joined University Orthopaedic Associates, specializing in sports medicine. Jeff served as the orthopaedic consultant and team physician for Princeton University, enthusiastically standing on the sideline at Princeton football games for over 20 years. Jeff was one of the rare few who joined a passion to a profession, and everyone he met benefited from it. Jeff will be remembered as a loving husband and father, as well as a friend, doctor and coach. Those closest to him will fondly recall him for his selflessness, loyalty and quick wit. Many treasured memories of Jeff have a connection to sports. He had a lifelong love for sports - playing, watching, coaching and caring for athletes. Many people will remember their interactions around his kitchen table, where friends, neighbors and athletes would ask his off-the-clock medical advice on their latest injuries. His calm reassurance and special sense of humor made him everyone's first call. Jeff is survived by his wife Mary; children Christopher (Olivia), Katelyn and Scott; father Thomas; brother Scott (Susan); sister Kim; brothers-in-law Bill (Emma) King and Robert (Andrea) King; sisters-in-law Dede King, Tricia (Fred) Kosmo, Debbie (Steve) Killman, Deirdre Neely and Eileen (Mark) Gillis; 19 nieces and nephews; and was predeceased by his mother Barbara Bechler. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, January 7th at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to Nassau Presbyterian Church (https://nassauchurch.org/giving/give-now/) or to ALK-positive lung cancer research (https://fundraise.lungevity.org/campaign/In-Loving-Memory-of-Dr-Jeffrey-Bechler).