A resident of Mercer Island for over 60 years, Dr. Abby Franklin, age 92, passed away peacefully in his home on January 19, 2017.

He was born in the small coal mining community of Uniontown, PA to immigrant Russian parents. He attended high school in Bellaire, Ohio, and college and medical school at the Ohio State University, receiving an MD degree in 1948. He enlisted in the US Navy during World War II, and served at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. During the Korean War, he served as a medical officer and was stationed in Kobe, Japan. He received his internship and residency training in internal medicine in Cleveland, Ohio and at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.

In 1951, he married his sweetheart, Myra, who was also born in Uniontown, PA. After his training, the couple moved to Seattle where he started a medical practice that continued for 41 years. Myra and Abby had three sons, all of whom followed in their father’s footsteps and became physicians.

Active in many community organizations, Abby was the first president of Herzl-Ner Tamid Congregation when the synagogue moved to Mercer Island. He was also active in the Anti-Defamation League, serving as its Seattle board chairman from 1968-1970 and again from 1977-99, and he was an honorary life member of the national ADL. He served on the board of the Stroum Jewish Community Center and founded a senior’s group there called Active Seniors. He was an active member of AIPAC and Stand With Us, as well as the Mercer Island Schools PTA.

He was a member of the King County Medical Society and served as chairman of its Media Relations Committee. He was on the medical staff of the former Doctor’s, Swedish and Harborview Hospitals and was on the faculty at the UW School of Medicine.

He was an avid fan of the Husky football team and the Seattle Sonics. He enjoyed hiking, skiing, saltwater fishing, theater and the Seattle Symphony.

He is survived by his wife, Myra, three sons, Benci, Jonathan and Seth, their wives, eight grandchildren and a great granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held at Herzl Ner Tamid Congregation on Mercer Island at 11:45 AM on Sunday, 1/22. Remembrances to Herzl Ner Tamid, the Caroline Kline Galland Home or a charity of your choice.