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

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