After receiving his doctorate from the University of Houston, he made his way to Polk County in 1957. He made his presence felt professionally at the Polk County Mental Health Center, now the Peace River Center, but also in other ways. He wrote a weekly psychology column for The Ledger for 13 years.

He was open in supporting liberal causes in Lakeland, even as his health declined.

"At Occupy Wall Street in Lakeland, there's a picture of him in his wheel chair," Jane Eskenazi said. "He's marched in a walker and in a wheelchair for causes."

Never a big man, maybe 5 feet 6 inches at his tallest height, "Al" made a name for himself by his compassion for families and his ability to treat children.

"He could relate to kids," his wife said. "He wasn't intimidating, he had small stature, and kids were just drawn to him."

Eskenazi became more passionate about his Sephardic Jewish roots in his later age.

He loved the harmonica and he loved football; he would attend local high school games, and watch football on Saturdays and Sundays too.

He loved the "Wizard of Oz," and kept a Chihuahua companion named Toto.

His wife quoted what a 26-year-old man wrote to her on Facebook.

"Al showed more compassion in one hour," the man said, "than I could show in a lifetime."

Eskenazi, born July 3, 1927, in Miami, graduated high school in South Florida before joining the Navy at 17 years old and serving during World War II,

He died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center of a dementia-related disorder. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and sons, Steven and Daniel. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia.

A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Dec. 28 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland. Instead of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.