William Fenberg Obituary

William Harvey Fenberg

William Harvey Fenberg, known to many as Bill, passed away at 77 in Dayton. Born April 18, 1948, in Findlay, he grew up in northwest Ohio and spent much of his life in Toledo and Dayton.

Bill devoted his professional life to caring for others as a family practice physician. Patients knew him as a thoughtful and compassionate doctor who took the time to listen. Caring for people-whether family, friends, or patients-was central to who he was. He is remembered fondly as a classic family doctor in the truest sense, with his traditional black bag in hand, available for house calls, and caring for families across generations.

He grew to appreciate traveling and seeing the American West while attending the University of Arizona for his undergraduate studies. Afterward, he returned to Ohio to earn his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his residency at St. Elizabeth in Covington, Kentucky.

Bill was the youngest of four children born to Max Fenberg and Dora (Sax) Fenberg. Although the youngest sibling, "Billy," often took on the quiet responsibility of looking after the rest of the family, a role that reflected his deep instinct for caretaking that defined both his family life and his career as a physician.

Although he suffered from a lifelong respiratory disease, he rarely complained and always prioritized the needs and well-being of others. He was known to diligently maintain a healthy lifestyle, allowing him to enjoy a full life of activities with family and friends.

He shared a lifelong bond with his wife, Harriet. The two first met as children in Sunday School in Toledo, though they did not exchange many words until they began dating years later, after Bill's mother and Harriet's father conspired to set them up. After three weeks of dating, they concluded they "made a good team" and got engaged. Their partnership became the center of his life and family for nearly 52 years.

Above all, Bill loved his family deeply. He found joy in simple things: tending to his cherry tomato plants, making popcorn and homemade pizza for movie nights, cheering on Ohio State football, and relaxing with a dog sleeping next to him. Those everyday rituals reflected his warmth and the care he put into creating a home for the people he loved.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet Schwartz Fenberg; his children, Michele Greenberg (Jared), Phillip Fenberg (Christina), and Stephen Fenberg (Lindsay); his grandchildren, Ava, Benny, Sasha, Isa, Marlow, and Reuben; his sister, Susan Barrett; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald Fenberg and sister, Bonnie Witas.

Bill was a dependable and calm man whose life was defined by kindness, devotion to family, and a sense of responsibility to care for those around him. His family, friends, and patients will remember him for his generosity of spirit and the quiet, steady kindness he shared with everyone in his life.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17, 2026, at Temple Beth Or, where his family belonged and where his children celebrated their bar and bat mitzvahs, with a reception to follow.

Charitable donations may be made in Bill's honor to Temple Beth Or or a charity of your choice.