Philip Bernstein
01/27/1940 - 06/16/2024
Dr. Philip Bernstein passed away peacefully, at his home on June 16, 2024. Phil was born in Hartford, Conn., to Abe and Mollie Bernstein. He graduated cum laude from the Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut where he was captain of three varsity teams. In 1962, he graduated cum laude from Harvard where he majored in Social Psychology – his advisor was Richard Alpert (of Alpert and Leary – AKA Baba Ram Das). His varsity baseball career (cleanup batter and first baseman) led to a 1962 offer to try out for the New York Mets. He told them he had already been accepted at medical school and his mother would be very disappointed. He went to Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated cum laude in 1966.
He then interned at Stanford and met Arlene Upright, who was teaching school in San Francisco. They married during his year of General Surgery at Stanford, then moved to Boston where he did his orthopedic surgery residency at Harvard and the Massachusetts General Hospital. During his residency hip replacement surgery was introduced in Boston. After two years in the U.S. Air Force Phil joined Drs. Scott Smyth, Thomas Lewis and Stanford Pollack in San Mateo. When his partners retired he recruited Drs. Todd Kim and Paul Abeyta to join him in the new Mills Peninsula Clinic at 1501 Trousdale, Burlingame. Phil taught Stanford Orthopedic residents at the Palo Alto VA hospital for 19 years and was promoted to Assistant Clinical Professor. His main interest was arthritis surgery and especially joint replacement surgery. Phil served as Chief of Orthopedics at Mills Hospital, director of San Mateo County Medical Society and member of the San Mateo Advisory Board of the Arthritis Foundation. He co-chaired the Mills-Peninsula campaign for the arthritis and rehab center.
Phil enjoyed reading, fishing – especially fly fishing, traveling, eating out, fine wine and spending time with his family.
His favorite trips included Africa, Galapagos, Nepal, Asia, Europe (often) –especially Paris.
He leaves his wife of 57 years, Arlene; daughter, Dana Bernstein Stiskin (Howard); son, Alex Bernstein; grandson, Ryan Stiskin and nephews and cousins. He is already missed.
Donations: Mills Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Jewish Family Service, Pets in Need or your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jun. 20 to Jun. 21, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Philip Bernstein

Sponsored by Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha.

11 Entries

Paula Reimer Crastes

May 21, 2025

I just found this on Legacy. Dr. Bernstein was a much loved physician at Mills-Peninsula. He knew my Mom as the charge nurse on days at the Mills ER and later me, as a nurse at Peninsula Hospital. I have such fond memories of him and how lovely he was to me and all staff. He will be missed.
Paula Reimer Crastes, MSN-Ed, RN.

Robert Gunn, M.D.

May 17, 2025

Very sad to learn of Phils passing. We were medical school classmates at Yale, class of 1966. We went on a 3-month driving tour of Europe in 1965 and had a great time. Phil was an usher/best man in my wedding in Princeton area Jan 1969 and I was in his wedding party in San Francisco. He will be missed. My condolences to Arlene and his family.
Bob Gunn

Elizabeth and Scott Smyth

Planted Trees

Marlene M. Spano, patient

September 21, 2024

Dr. Bernstein did my two hip replacements 20 years ago, and I have never ever had any more pain. He was a very dedicated wonderful human being and had a great bedside manner about him. Believe me, he was a class act of a doctor. There will never be a doctor as wonderful as him. I shall miss him.
Marlene M. Spano

Lopez-Guerra Oscar

September 21, 2024

I just found out Phill passed away. He was the total gentleman. They do not make him like that anymore. He is already missed even by those that did not know him well as it is in my case. Oscar Lopez-Guerra 9/20/4

Tim Roehm

July 23, 2024

My wife Shelly was employed as a receptionist for Dr. Bernstein, an empathetic and skilled doctor and truly a very wonderful man. He treated everyone with respect. He always seemed to have that warm smile on his face. He was one of the last of the true old school, do it all professional doctors. He will be missed.

Margaret Kreyling

Planted Trees

Paula Reimer

July 2, 2024

I will miss Dr. Bernstein. As an RN at Peninsula hospital, he was a kind Dr. who always greeted me with a smile. He was loved and respected.

Kay Sweeney

June 23, 2024

A good man. He replaced my hip and his real kindness and gentle spirit made a lasting impression on me. Someone who made the world a better place.

Herb Fisher

June 23, 2024

A fine surgeon and friend. Herb Fisher, MD

Michael Goldfield M. D.

June 20, 2024

Phil and I met in kindergarten in Hartford, ct and were close ever since. We enjoyed golf at Keeney Park at age 10. We ended up living close in Hillsborough. He had a great heart and soul. May he rip. Michael Goldfield.

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