Dr. James W. Esler, 44, who became one of the leading heart specialists in Washington, D.C., after giving up his practice here more than 10 years ago, died last evening at 5:30 in Emergency Hospital, Washington, of cancer of the stomach. He had been ill for five years but his condition did not become grave until two months ago. His brother, Attorney Russell J. Esler, of Tarentum was with him when death came.

Dr. Esler was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James W. Esler, for years widely known residents of Tarentum.

He attended Tarentum High School, graduating in the class of 1912. Later he was graduated from Washington and Jefferson College and the University of Pennsylvania where he received his degree in medicine. Coming to Tarentum he maintained an office in Peoples National Bank building.
After going to Washington, Dr. Esler took special post-graduate work in diseases of the heart at Boston and Philadelphia. In Washington he soon won wide recognition for his skill as a heart specialist.

In addition to serving on the staffs of Emergency Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital and Garfield Memorial Hospital, he was president of the Washington Heart association and professor of Cardiology at George Washington University. He was also a member of the Metropolitan Club.

At the time of death, Dr. Esler was well on the way to winning national recognition as a heart specialist.

He leaves his widow, Mrs. Lillian M. Esler, one son, James W., Jr., and his brother.

The body will arrive here tomorrow morning and will be taken at once to the Russell J. Esler home, in East Tenth avenue, where funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30.

Burial will follow in Prospect cemetery.

(obituary – Valley Daily News, Tarentum, PA 16 Dec 1938)