Neal Bornstein, MD, 78

VENICE, FLA. – Neal Gerald Bornstein, MD, of Lakeville, Massachusetts, passed away on Feb. 28, 2025, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, in Venice, Florida. He was the loving husband of Phyllis Anne (Menkes) Bornstein, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.

Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Harold and Rose (Rosenberg) Bornstein.

An Eagle Scout, Neal graduated from Swampscott High School in 1964. He enlisted in ROTC while earning a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College. After graduating in 1968, he embarked on a medical career at Duke University Medical School.

Upon completing medical school, Neal married Phyllis Anne Menkes on May 28, 1972. Subsequently, he started his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After completing his residency in 1974, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving actively as a pediatrician at Fort Leonard Wood, in Missouri.

At the end of his service in 1977, Dr. Bornstein and his family moved to Lakeville to establish Middleboro Pediatrics. He became a beloved pediatrician in the community, serving multiple generations of families, while also actively participating in various medical and pediatric organizations and initiatives. He always remained proud of the growth and achievements of Middleboro Pediatrics, from which he retired in 2013.

Neal was a longtime and active member of Tifereth Israel Congregation, in New Bedford. In his free time, he was an avid photographer, who was particularly fond of capturing moments with his grandchildren and nature. He also enjoyed scuba diving and RV camping. A genuinely curious soul, he cherished the opportunity to experience and learn new things throughout his life. He particularly enjoyed and appreciated interactions with friends, family, patients and their families. 

In addition to his wife, Phyllis, he is survived by his daughter, Deborah Hickey, her husband, Brad Hickey, and their two daughters, Rachel and Charlotte, of Walpole, Massachusetts; his son, Aaron Bornstein, MD, his wife, Ilisabeth Bornstein, and their two children, Madeleine and Jonah Bornstein, of Easton, Massachusetts; and his sister, Norma Rooks, of Peabody, Massachusetts.

Contributions may be made to Tifereth Israel Congregation, 145 Brownell Ave., New Bedford, MA 02740; American Academy of Pediatrics Friends of Children Fund, AAP Development, P.O. Box 7525, Carol Stream, IL 60197; or a charity of one’s choice.