Victor H. Auerbach, 86, of Ambler, a biochemistry professor and researcher in the field of pediatric disorders at Temple University School of Medicine, died Saturday, May 23, of an infection at Abington Memorial Hospital.
A longtime resident of Ambler, he had lived at the Artman Lutheran Home for the last three years.
Born in New York City, he attended the Bronx School of Science as an honors student and received a bachelor of arts degree from Columbia University. He pursued his love of science at Harvard University, where he earned a master's degree in medical sciences in 1955 and a doctorate in biochemistry two years later.
He began his career in biochemistry as a research assistant at Columbia University and later worked at Tufts University School of Medicine.
His first academic appointment was at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, where he was a research associate in the department of pediatrics and an instructor in the department of physiological chemistry.
He moved to Philadelphia in 1958 to become a research professor of biochemistry and a research professor in pediatrics at the Temple University School of Medicine.
Dr. Auerbach also was director of the Enzyme Laboratory and both the Research and Clinical Laboratories of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. At that time, St. Christopher was the pediatric division of Temple Hospital.
An expert on errors of metabolism and amino acid analysis in children, Dr. Auerbach published papers on disorders that can interfere with the development of, and sometimes result in the early death of, pediatric patients.
Dr. Auerbach was active on committees throughout his tenure at both St. Christopher's Hospital and Temple University. At the latter, he served as president of the Faculty Senate in 1974 and 1975.
As a teacher, he had the ability to explain the most difficult concepts in clear, simple language so fellows, graduate students, and medical students could understand them.
"He was the ultimate teacher," said Jane Comroe, a friend for 50 years. "He would instruct the nurses in the nursing home [where he was staying] about anatomy and physiology. He was a genius."
Upon retiring in 1993, Dr. Auerbach was named emeritus research professor in pediatrics (biochemistry).
Dr. Auerbach wrote or cowrote 28 books or chapters on errors of metabolism. He also was the author or coauthor of 93 papers and abstracts on amino acid deficiencies and other topics for leading medical journals.
He lectured all over the world, including at the 11th Pediatrics Conference in Tokyo in the 1970s.
Dr. Auerbach was a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the American Chemical Society, and the Biochemical Society (London). He also was a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He enjoyed classical music and was well-versed in the arts, literature, and world history. He would always conclude his correspondence, both personal and professional, with "panta rei," or "all things change" in the philosophy of Heraclitus.
There were no immediate survivors, but Dr. Auerbach is survived by many friends and colleagues. His wife, Helen M. Auerbach, an accomplished amateur artist with whom he shared a long marriage, died in 2012.
Interment was private.
To share farewell messages online, visit www.baskwill.com.
bcook@phillynews.com
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