Dr. Joseph Brenner

Brenner-Dr. Joseph H, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at the age of 91. Dr. Brenner was born into a large family in Liverpool, England in June, 1924, and received his medical degree from Liverpool University Medical School at the age of 23 and served as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Cyprus and East Africa from 1948 to 1950. He came to the United States on a Fulbright Medical Scholarship for Internal Medicine at the May Institute in Cincinnati, OH, and during this time he wed his former wife Myra, a friend from his youth, and welcomed the birth of his daughter Martha, in 1961.  During a 40 year career in psychiatric medicine he provided medical care for students and faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  During this time he founded the Cambridgeport Free Medical Clinic (1968) and the Cambridgeport Problem Center (1969) that provided free medical care and legal counsel to a growing number of youths then struggling with drug abuse and homelessness.  In addition, Dr. Brenner volunteered with several organizations that focused on medical, psychological, social, and legal issues across the greater Boston community. He served as a consultant to the American Civil Liberties Union, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and V.I.S.T.A., was a board member of the Cambridge Coordinating Committee on Drug Abuse and was chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hampstead Medical Foundation. Dr. Brenner’s published works dealt with drug abuse, youth culture, and hunger. He is survived by his daughter Martha Brenner Slone, grandchildren Mariah Sophia Slone and Evan Dennis Slone, siblings Harold Brenner, Gloria Jacobs, Joan Sheff, and Ruth Ellenbogen, and many lifelong colleagues and friends. Remembrances may be made to Community Legal Services and Counseling Center, One West St. Cambridge, MA 02139. A graveside service will be held at Westview Cemetery, Bedford St., in Lexington, MA at 10am on Friday, September 4^th. Shiva will be held Friday through Sunday at Martha’s home after the service.