Annette Schaffer Eskind, a civic leader and philanthropist who, with her late husband, Irwin Eskind, MD, made transformational contributions to Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and throughout the city of Nashville, died July 13. She was 97.
Dr. Eskind, who died in 2005, was a co-founder of Hospital Affiliates International, which later was purchased by Hospital Corporation of America. He was also a member of the faculty of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and served on the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust.
With her husband, Mrs. Eskind was a longtime supporter of both Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Among the Eskind family’s many contributions were the establishment of the comprehensive Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Clinic and the Annette Schaffer Eskind Chair at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.
They also provided a landmark gift toward the renovation and expansion of Vanderbilt’s biomedical library. The Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical Library and Learning Center, which reopened in 2018, is a hub of medical information services and resources that support the next generation of scientists, physicians, students and patients.
“The remarkable generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Eskind touched every corner of the Medical Center and the lives of so many. Their gifts were visionary, forever impacting the care of our patients and generations of medical students and trainees who continue to benefit from the state-of-the-art facilities bearing their names,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“I am saddened by the passing of Mrs. Eskind. Her time and decades-long involvement with the Medical Center’s causes have benefited so many. On behalf of the VUMC community I want to offer my condolences to the Eskind family at this difficult time.”
A native of Boston, Mrs. Eskind graduated from Brookline High School and Arcadia University in Philadelphia and earned a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University.
While her brother Joseph was in residency training in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital, he introduced her to a fellow resident physician and her future husband, Dr. Irwin Eskind, a 1948 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. They married in 1951.
In 1956, after Dr. Eskind completed his residency, fellowship and military duty at West Point, the couple and their two young sons moved to Nashville, where he opened a private practice in internal medicine. Mrs. Eskind began her career as a caseworker for Jewish Family Services of Nashville, serving as casework supervisor from 1980 to 1990.
Upon her arrival in Nashville, Mrs. Eskind was distressed to learn there was no public kindergarten. Her efforts to address this deficiency and her advocacy of public education impressed then-Mayor Beverly Briley. In 1965 he appointed her to the first Metro Nashville Board of Public Education, on which she served through 1973.
Mrs. Eskind held several leadership positions at Vanderbilt, including serving on the advisory boards of the Ayers Institute and Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, and on the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Leadership Council.
She also founded the Nashville Public Education Foundation and served in board membership capacities for Alive Hospice, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the Council of Jewish Women, the Nashville League of Women Voters, and the W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville.
Her accolades include the Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Hope Chest Award from the Middle Tennessee chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Alexis de Tocqueville Award from United Way, the YWCA Academy of Women of Achievement Award, and the Jack C. Massey Leadership Award from the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee.
In addition to her husband, Annette Eskind was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Dorothy Schaffer and her two brothers, Dr. Joseph Schaffer (Edith) and Stanley Schaffer, all of Boston.
She is survived by her two sons, Steven Eskind, MD (Laurie) and Jeffrey Eskind, MD (Donna), and five grandchildren, Michael Eskind (Kristin), Julie Galbierz (Andrew), David Eskind, MD (Megan), Matthew Eskind (Caroline, MD) and Sara Eskind. Fondly known as “Nana,” Annette had nine great grandchildren. Nieces and nephews include Jonathan Schaffer (Elaine Shaver), Ellen Eskind Lehman and William Eskind.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Jewish Family Service of Nashville or the Nashville Public Education Foundation.
A private graveside burial will take place Wednesday, July 16. Funeral services will be held July 16 at The Temple-Congregation Ohabai Sholom, 5015 Harding Pike at 1 p.m. Visitation will take place at the home of Annette Eskind at 541 Jackson Blvd.
