Jeffrey Robert Bechler ’81

Jeffrey Robert Bechler ’81, M.D., died of cancer on December 29, 2022, at his home in Princeton, New Jersey, where he and Mary raised their children and became engaged in the community in multiple ways. Jeff’s father, Thomas ’56, and older brother, Scott ’80, also attended Dartmouth. In high school in Palos Verdes, California, Jeff played football, basketball, and baseball. At Dartmouth Jeff was premed, majored in economics, and played baseball. He was active in intramural basketball, Dragon Society, and Kappa Sigma. Junior year roommate George Thompson ’82 remembers: “Jeff was responsible for introducing the Ocean Pacific clothing line to Hanover in the late 1970s and with John Funk revolutionized the wearing of flip flops to class at just about any time of year. Jeff’s understated nature betrayed a fierce commitment to his friends and a resolute determination to becoming a successful doctor.” Jeff attended New York Medical School, graduating in 1987 and developing an orthopedic surgery and sports medicine practice. Jeff served as the orthopedic consultant and team physician for Princeton University, enthusiastically standing on the sideline at Princeton football games for more than 20 years. Jeff was board certified and held an academic appointment as a clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Patients used words such as “supportive,” “patient,” and “reassuring” to describe his care, some commenting Jeff was “the best doctor I’ve ever had.” He is survived by Mary and children Chris, Katelyn, and Scott.