BK Blast Archive

Dr. Milton L, 84, father of BK member Arthur Ferrante, passed away yesterday morning, July 10, 2014. He is survived by Eileen, his wife of 62 years, as well as adored sons Dr. Benjamin, Dr. Daniel and Arthur, and eight grandchildren.

Born in Brooklyn to Samuel and Lillian Levine, Milton attended Tilden High School, received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Columbia University in 1950, and graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1954. He interned in surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital, and then served for two years as the Medical Officer and advisor to the Jewish Chapel Squad at West Point. Returning to NYC, Milton completed his training in medicine at NYU and a fellowship in gastroenterology on the Cornell Service at Bellevue Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering. He was in the first class of applicants to obtain board certification in the then new subspecialty of gastroenterology. Milton was a passionate physician who truly loved his work. He practiced internal medicine and gastroenterology on Long Island for nearly fifty years, including many years as Chief of Gastroenterology at Franklin General Hospital. He developed an endoscopic technique to treat achalasia that is still popular today, and published several articles on the subject. Milton served on the faculty of Long Island Jewish Hospital and was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology, and a past President of the Long Island Gastroenterology Society. He was an enthusiastic singer from his undergraduate days as a member of the Columbia Kingsmen, a cappella group to his many years as a member of The Franklin Trio. No family gathering was complete without a performance of show tunes by Milton. He loved a good joke and a bad pun. He was also an avid tennis player and outdoorsman, enjoying windsurfing, sailing, swimming and running in the annual 10-K at his beloved Shelter Island.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association , the Perlman Music Program, or the charity of your choice.

A Chapel Service will be held on Sunday, July 13, 2014 at 12:00 noon at Jewish Memorial Chapel of Long Island at 46 Greenwich St., Hempstead, NY. The burial will follow at Beth David Cemetery Elmont, NY. Shiva will occur Monday through Thursday next week, 1-4 pm and 6-9 pm at Milton and Eileen's home, 530 Kirkby Rd, Elmont, NY 11003.