Dr. Horace Barsh

Dr. Horace Barsh, a devoted physician, family man, and lifelong Philadelphian, was born on July 9, 1935, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Charles and Laura (nee Berk) Barsh. He was the beloved older brother of Miriam Brown, who predeceased him in 2023.

Dr. Barsh was a proud graduate of Central High School’s 200th graduating class and went on to earn his pharmacy degree from Temple University. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1961, a distinction he carried with great pride throughout his life. He often said that becoming a physician was his greatest professional honor, and he was deeply proud to be a DO.

In 1960, he married Helen Lob, and together they raised three children: Gregory (married to Lori), Steven (married to Amber), and Lisa (married to Howard). He later married Deborah Komins, who passed away in 2006, and lovingly adopted her daughter, Betsy (married to Jeff), when Betsy was 19 years old. Betsy joined the family between Gregory and Steven in age. He also loved and adored until the end of his life, Deborah’s son Benton Komins (married to Reha).

Dr. Barsh’s professional life was defined by dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to patient care. He began his medical career as a solo practitioner on West Cayuga Street in Philadelphia, where he practiced from 1961 to 1976. In 1976, he founded the Community Medical Center in Germantown—an ambitious, forward-thinking model of integrated healthcare that was far ahead of its time. Under one roof, the center offered multiple physicians, dentists, a full laboratory, minor surgical facilities, X-ray services, podiatry, and a complete pharmacy.

He practiced at the Community Medical Center until its sale to Temple University, after which he continued working full-time. In 2008, he married Carol Blank and later transitioned to part-time practice with Temple University until the COVID-19 pandemic led him to step away from the office in 2020. In total, Dr. Barsh practiced medicine for an extraordinary 58 years. As his eldest son once said, “We should all love what we do half as much as my father.”

Dr. Barsh was the proud grandfather of sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild (Annie). Gregory’s children are Henry and Sam. Betsy’s children are Jacob and Robert, with Robert married to Alyssa and the proud parents of a daughter, Annie. Steven’s children are Spencer (married to Uly) and Lane. Lisa’s children are Evan and Josh. Through his marriage to Carol, he was also a devoted grandfather to her children’s offspring: Jill (married to Paul), with children Kate, Ben, James, and Charles; Sally (married to Devin), with children Jeffrey, Ellie, and Will; and Philip (married to April), with son Mo.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Barsh loved travel, good food, and time spent at his cherished home in Beach Haven, New Jersey. Above all else, he treasured his family. He was an exemplary role model to his grandchildren, traveling across the country to visit them at college and taking many of them on unforgettable trips. His curiosity, warmth, and devotion left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

Dr. Horace Barsh will be remembered for his compassion, vision, tireless work ethic, and deep love for his family. His legacy lives on through the countless lives he healed, the family he adored, and the generations he inspired.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm ET on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Goldstein’s Funeral Home, 310 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA 18966. You can watch a livestream of the service here. Internment at Roosevelt Memorial Park will follow.

Shiva will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5 pm at the home of Lisa Brown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gift of Life Foundation, The Stop ALD Foundation, The FSHD Society, or Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.