Bernard F. Citrenbaum “Bunny,” Pharmacist Bernard Francis Citrenbaum (“Bunny”), a retired Washington-area Pharmacist, died peacefully on December 17, 2017. He was 92. Bunny was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1925. When he was 4 years old his family moved to Washington, DC at the height of the Great Depression and settled in the Columbia Heights section of the city. Bunny attended DC public schools and was a star athlete at Roosevelt High where he played basketball, baseball, soccer, and football. “Red” Auerbach was his basketball coach at Roosevelt High. A rabbit-quick floor general, the nickname “Bunny” evolved while playing for the legendary coach and remained his nickname for life. He was voted “Best Male Athlete” by his 1944 graduating class. Following high school, Bunny was attending American University when he was drafted to serve in World War II. Bunny joined the Army and served on the front lines in France where he received a Purple Heart for shielding a fellow soldier from an incoming grenade. Following the war, Bunny attended the George Washington University, where he received an undergraduate degree in chemistry. As an undergraduate, he represented the school on both the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He played semi-professional baseball in Georgia during the summer. After graduating from pharmacy school in 1951. Bunny served in area pharmacies for over 40 years starting his career at his family store in Capitol Hill as well at different stores in DC and Maryland. Bunny married Toby Drogin in 1956. They enjoyed many happy years together raising their two sons in Silver Spring, MD before her untimely death in 1991. Following retirement, Bunny volunteered with Meals on Wheels and continued to challenge himself athletically. Not only a fixture at the Wheaton Regional Park tennis bubble, he also became an avid cyclist and recreational golfer. In 2001, when he tragically lost his right leg to a rare encounter with necrotizing fasciitis, he met this challenge head-on, bolstered by his athleticism, signature positive attitude, and characteristic determination. One of his proudest achievements was being inducted into the prestigious Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 for his many athletic accomplishments. Bunny’s wife, the former Toby Drogin and his older brother Lenny pre-deceased him. Survivors include his two sons: Danny (Judi) of Silver Spring, MD and Richard (Kathy) of Ventura, CA; his five grandchildren: Sarah, Shayna, Cole, Michael, and Bryan; his younger brother Alan (Joan) of Philadelphia, PA; his many nieces, nephews, and life-long friends. He will be remembered as a good friend and a good man. Funeral Services will be held on December 28, 2017 at 11a.m. at Hines Rinaldi Funeral Home in Silver Spring. Interment to follow at the King David cemetery in Falls Church, VA. Shiva will be held in Silver Spring at his son’s home on Thursday, December 28 at 6:30pm. Memorial contributions may be made in Bunny’s honor to The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation, http://www.nnff.com/donate.html.
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