Dr. B.L. Winter, Social Activist, Dies in La Jolla

Dr. Bernard L. Winter, a longtime political and social activist, feminist, fund-raiser, artist and retired oral surgeon, has died at his La Jolla home of heart failure. He was 64.

Winter, along with his wife, Tanja, was active in social issues. He was a strong supporter of the anti-apartheid movement and nuclear disarmament. He was also a founding member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, a spokesman for the Gray Panthers in San Diego, a member of the Gerontological Society and the Federation for Social Scientists, and played a role in establishing paramedic service in San Diego. As spokesman for the Panthers, Winter promoted the Dellums National Health Bill, which seeks to provide free health care to everyone in the country by converting the health care industry into a public service.

“He was very forceful, very well-spoken and very dedicated” to the Gray Panthers, said Arthur Deutsch, a member of the Gray Panthers. Deutsch said Winter was not very active in recent years because of illness.

In addition to having strong political views, Winter was a photographer, a woodworker, a sculptor and a boater. He attended the University of Wisconsin, was a veteran of World War II and attended the New York University School of Dentistry, graduating in 1950.

Winter was born in New York in April, 1921. In 1951 he met his wife, then a social worker, while he was an intern at Greenpoint Hospital in Brooklyn.

“I would say his strongest trait was that he was totally unable to stand by when he saw injustice being done,” his wife said. “He was fearless in his willingness to stand by people and issues he felt needed support.”

In 1972, illness forced Winter’s retirement from his practice as an oral surgeon. Three years later the Winters moved to La Jolla, where they remained active in social issues.

“The most striking thing about him was his joy of life . . . He was a great lover of music, the arts, the theater and all the things that make life beautiful,” Tanja Winter said.

In addition to his wife, Winter is survived by a son, Terry Winter of Sebastopol, Calif.; two daughters, Mia Winter of San Diego and Nita Winter of San Francisco; a brother, Paul Winter of Forest Hills, N.Y., and two grandsons.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at a private residence in La Jolla. The family suggests that donations be sent to UNICEF.