Dr. Stuart Ira Erner

Slingerlands, New York - Erner

Stuart I. Erner, M.D., 70, died suddenly on April 1, 2022, in Albany, N.Y. 

He was born August 9, 1951, in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Phyllis B. and Henry J. Erner. He grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, N.Y., also with his younger brother Barry, who survives him.

Coming from a legacy of accomplished musicians, Stu studied classical piano from the age of five and taught himself guitar. During rock ‘n’ roll’s British invasion he fell in love and he paid his way through college and medical school playing gigs, also performing stand-up comedy. He enjoyed much Jewish, New York and latter-day Borscht belt culture, including such stand-up comedians as Jackie Mason and George Carlin and the Great Depression and World War II-era slapstick shorts of The Three Stooges.

At Stony Brook University in Long Island he was a relief pitcher on the baseball team and obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1972.

A childhood fascination with disease and lifelong struggles with personal and community health led him to study medicine. While at Tufts University Medical School in Boston he met a nurse on a blind date, Marlene Ellen Rinde, who survives him; the two married the next year.

Often generous to a fault, while a medical resident 1976-79 Stu established a nutrition program at the Neighborhood Health Center, a free health clinic in Pittsfield, Mass. Later in New York's Capital District he shared his medical expertise as a regular guest taking calls on the radio show on WQBK and WGY radio.

In 1979 he and Marlene moved to the Capital District. He practiced with Pankin & Balsam, 1979-87; Capital District Internal Medicine & Bariatric, 1987-97; and the Capital Region Progressive Medicine & Longevity Practice, from 2001 until his death.

He & Marlene had two children: Tobi, 39, a social worker in New York City, and Phil, 41, a farmer & politician in Kingston, N.Y. Music was Stu’s greatest gift to them; he loved playing and listening to all kinds of music and celebrated all musical achievements. Their house was always full of jamming with family & friends. With him directing the family band from the piano, Tobi sang lead and Phil played drums. When brother Barry visited, he played bass. Stu always kvelled over Tobi’s musical theater performances like his ancestors beforehand. Tobi & Phil continue to sing together especially for social causes.

Stu was a techno-optimist and futurist, and a lover of Star Trek and the X-Files. He had hopes for a peaceful future of spacefaring for humanity.

He often said that his loves in life were family & friends; his patients; music; and the New York Yankees.

Additional survivors include his brother Barry’s wife Melissa, his sister-in-law Annie Erner, and Barry & Annie’s children Stefanie Jagielski, Jonathan Erner, and David Erner, and their families; sister-in-law Jodie Rinde and her children Daria and Ethan; and numerous cousins.

Services at the Ohav Shalom Cemetery on Church Road in Guilderland, NY on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 1pm.  The service will be live streamed at the following link,  beginning at 12:45pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acye1WZA6Jo

The family will appreciate memorial contributions to: Congregation Ohav Shalom, Albany, N.Y.; the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Latham, N.Y.; and Hungry for Music, Washington, D.C.

Shiva will be observed at the family residence, 4 Brookview Terrace Slingerlands, NY 12159 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday commencing at 7:00pm.  The Zoom link for Shiva is 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81553852828?pwd=OGwweFBObFV1aDRrb1A5NnlQSlJqUT09#success   for those that will not be able to attend in person

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