Share
Phil Bernanke, a former longtime S.C. pharmacist whose son is the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has died. He was 85.
Bernanke died Wednesday at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, according to an obituary in Thursday’s Observer.
Bernanke was born in New York City but spent much of his life in Dillon, S.C. where he ran the Jay Bee Drug Co. on Main Street along with his father Jonas and brother Mort. The brothers were known around town as “Dr. Phil” and “Dr. Mort,” according to Bernanke’s obituary.
Bernanke and his wife, Edna, had four children. One of his sons, Ben, has served as the Federal Reserve Chairman since 2006.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Ben Bernanke discussed the family pharmacy in a speech three years ago.
“Dillon had very few doctors at the time, so a lot of people came to my dad and uncle for advice on basic health matters,” Bernanke said in the 2009 speech, according to the Journal. “I remember working in the store as a boy, or, as Uncle Mort likes to remind me, avoiding work by hiding out by the comic-book rack.”
Phil and Edna Bernanke lived most recently in Charlotte.
The couple were members of Temple Israel in Charlotte. The Bernankes have been involved with the temple’s Art of Jewish Aging group.
Survivors include his wife; sons Ben and Seth Bernanke and daughter Sharon. Services will be Friday at Temple Israel.
