DECEMBER 19 • 2019 | 61
Soul
of blessed memory
A Gifted Physician, Philanthropist and
“Hero”
with a Strong Moral Compass
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
D
r. Melvin A. Lester was a man of
many talents. He was a gifted and
caring physician, a savvy business-
man, an innovative hospital administrator,
a musical virtuoso, a proficient sailor, a
skillful chef, a knowledgeable patron of
the arts and a generous philan-
thropist. Dr. Lester, who lived
in Franklin, Mich., died Dec. 8,
2019, at age 83.
Melvin Lester was born in
1936 in Detroit, where he lived
with his parents, Rose and
George, his sister, Carole, and
their grandmother Jenny. After
graduating from Central High
School, he earned an undergrad-
uate degree from Wayne State University
and went on to attend the University of
Michigan Medical School. He specialized
in internal medicine, believing it was his
calling to practice in a setting where he
could develop long-term relationships with
his patients and their families.
He earned a reputation as a skilled and
compassionate caregiver, taking care of
many people who couldn’
t afford to pay.
To his colleagues, he was a highly regarded
mentor, never too busy to give advice or
help a friend.
Mel met his wife, Geri (of blessed
memory) at Camp Tanuga in northern
Michigan, where both were counselors.
For the next 42 years, they shared a life
filled with love, friendship, fun, respect,
adventure and strong family values.
Together they traveled the world, sailed
the seas and enjoyed their mutual love of
music and art.
Geri and Mel raised their four children
to be self-sufficient and independent, to
respect themselves and others, to focus on
the present instead of dwelling on the past
and to always stay close to one another.
He warmly welcomed his son-in-law
and daughters-in-law into the family
and enthusiastically became a doting
“Papa Mel” to his nine grandchildren and
great-grandson.
According to his son Kenny, any num-
ber of praiseful adjectives describe his
father, including intelligent, passionate,
practical, loyal, benevolent and kind. But
the traits Mel valued above all
others were honesty and integrity.
Doing the right thing was always
a priority, and he believed success
meant more when it was achieved
through hard work and sacrifice
rather than luck.
“He taught us there were no
short cuts in life,
” Kenny said. “To
do things honorably, you had to
be able to do things the hard way.
”
Mel was a diehard Wolverine, hosting
legendary tailgate parties at U-M’
s football
stadium with his longtime friend Ira Jaffe.
Eventually, he transitioned out of private
practice and moved into hospital adminis-
tration; he served as chief of staff at Grace
Hospital, president of Harper Hospital and
vice-president of Detroit Medical Center.
More recently, he was special assistant to
the executive vice president for medical
affairs and an adjunct professor, both at the
U-M medical school.
His son Matthew describes his father
as a hero, “a serious, no-nonsense man
among men” with a strong moral compass
who was unimpressed by money or social
status.
After losing Geri to cancer in 2003, Mel
increased his involvement in a variety of
causes that included stem cell research, the
Karmanos Cancer Institute and Michigan
Cancer Foundation, the University (of
Michigan) Musical Society and the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra, where he served on
the board of directors.
His later years were also enriched by
his relationship with Doreen Hermelin,
and the two shared many enjoyable times
together traveling and enjoying each
other’
s families.
An inventive man with a special interest
in vascular research, he envisioned an
innovative program where a collaboration
of specialists from many fields would
provide world-class cardiovascular care.
With the support of longtime friends
Samuel and Jean Frankel, he played a
major role in establishing the Frankel
Cardiovascular Center on U-M’
s medical
campus.
Despite his declining health, Mel
remained grateful for his life experiences
and the people he shared them with. In
the prologue to his autobiography, You
Should Be So Lucky, he wrote, “My life was
filled with wonderful and exciting stories.
Nobody, no one, could have been blessed
like I was.
”
Dr. Melvin Lester is survived by his
children; Stefany (Gary) Freeman, Kenneth
(Pam) Lester, Matthew (Nicole) Lester and
Jennifer (partner Kim LeMaire) Lester;
grandchildren, Jacob (Tracey) Freeman,
Spencer (Rosie Nocita) Freeman, Bradley
Freeman, Nicole (Matt) Riskin, Abby
Lester, Cory Lester, Hannah Lester, Elliah
Lester and Asa Lester;
great-grandson,
Graham Riskin; sister, Carole (the late
Eugene) Morrison; and loving friend and
companion, Doreen Hermelin. He was
the beloved husband of the late Geraldine
Lester.
Contributions in honor of Dr. Melvin
Lester may be made to Gilda’
s Club of
Metro Detroit, 3517 Rochester Road, Royal
Oak, MI 48073, (248) 577-0800,
gildasclubdetroit.org; University of
Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center,
1000 Oakbrook Drive, Ste. 100, Ann
Arbor, MI 48104-6815, (734) 764-6777,
victors.us/melvinlester; Detroit Symphony
Orchestra, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit,
MI 48201-2444, (313) 576-5114, dso.
org/Donate; or a charity of one’
s choice.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
Dr. Melvin Lester
continued on page 62