M. David Ben-Asher, MD died peacefully in his sleep, on December 28, 2024, in Tucson, at the age of 93. He was born in Newark, N.J., to Dora and Samuel Ben-Asher on June 18, 1931. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Buffalo, where he met Bryna Shirley Zeller. They married in 1956 and lived on army bases in Georgia, Washington, and New Jersey, while David served as a major in the United States Army Medical Corps.
When David and Bryna moved to Tucson in 1964, he established Southern Arizona Medical Specialists, where he practiced for 51 years in nephrology and internal medicine. During that time, he also served as chief of medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital, president of the Pima County Medical Society, and president of the Arizona Board of Medical Examiners. David was a founding faculty member of the University of Arizona’s School of Medicine and a local pioneer in the field of nephrology, establishing the first kidney dialysis facility in southern Arizona.
David was also a devoted lay leader of Congregation Anshei Israel, where he served as president and Ritual Committee chair, frequently led Torah study, holiday, Shabbat and daily services, and volunteered with the Chevra Kadisha burial society.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Aida Nesselroth and Marcia Burstein; his wife Bryna of 57 years; and their children Steven Ben-Asher and Susan (Jon) Newton.
He is survived by his children, Nancy Ben-Asher (Tidhar) Ozeri and Jon Ben-Asher of Tucson, and Judy Ben-Asher (Dan Hirshfeld) of Roseville, CA; and grandchildren Shoham Ozeri, Eshed Ozeri, Geva Ozeri, Halle Ben-Asher, and Ellah Ben-Asher.
Services will be held in the chapel at Evergreen Mortuary and Cemetery on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 2:00 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Susan Ben-Asher Newton Scholarship in Nursing at the University of Arizona Foundation.
