64 | NOVEMBER 16 • 2023 

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

D

r. Leslie “Les” Bricker, 
71, of Northville, died 
on Oct. 30, 2023, after 
a brief illness while traveling 
with his wife, Bonnie, in 
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
After his residency at 
Sinai Hospital of Detroit, Les 
completed his Fellowship in 
Hematology and Oncology at 
the University of Michigan. 
He worked a few years in 
private practice and then was 
invited to join the Henry Ford 
Medical Group, Department 
of Medicine, Division of 
Hematology & Oncology 
in 1985 as a senior staff 
physician. Dr. Bricker had an 
extraordinary 33-year career 
of distinguished service to 
Henry Ford Medical Group 
until his retirement in 2018. 
During his time as an 
oncologist, he developed a 
strong interest in palliative 
and hospice medicine and 
served as one of the first 
hospice medical directors 
for Henry Ford Hospital. 
Les advanced his training 
in palliative care through 
the Roxane Scholars in 
Palliative Care Program at 
the Cleveland Clinic and 
Northwestern University. 
In 2000, Dr. Bricker, along 
with Virginia Paige, NP, 
founded and launched the 
Palliative Medicine Service 
at Henry Ford Hospital — 
one of the first programs in 
Metro Detroit. Through his 
vision for compassionate 
care for patients with serious 
illness, Dr. Bricker fostered 
a culture change at Henry 
Ford Hospital that led to 
the integration of palliative 
medicine into the care of all 
patients. He also initiated 
Schwartz Center Rounds at 

HFH, which has become a 
vital component for ongoing 
open dialogue among 
providers about the emotional 
side of caregiving.
Dr. Bricker leaves 
behind a legacy 
of compassionate 
care. He trained and 
educated innumerable 
residents, students, 
fellows, advanced 
practice providers and 
attending staff on the 
art of communicating 
bad news, as well as 
pain and symptom 
management. 
He was instrumental in 
writing the Green Book, which 
serves as a reference standard 
for palliative care. He fulfilled 
many educational roles during 
his career, including director 
of the Palliative Medicine 
Fellowship Program, 
physician mentor for Wayne 
State University and program 
director for the Annual 
Symposium of the Hospices of 
Henry Ford Health System. 
As a result of his leadership 
activities, Dr. Bricker was 
sought out to serve on many 
HFH, state and national 
committees and boards. In his 
retirement intent letter, Dr. 
Bricker wrote, “I will be forever 
grateful for the time I’ve spent 
as a physician at HFH and 
will cherish my memories of 
patients and colleagues.”
In addition to his stellar 
medical career, Les also had 
a unique enthusiasm for 
life outside the hospital. He 
had a passionate interest in 
the arts, especially chamber 
music, opera and reading 
short stories. Over the years, 
he amassed a carefully curated 
collection of original three-

dimensional figures. Les loved 
talking about the artists who 
created the figures and the 
special features of the media 
they used to express their 
vision. 
After retirement, 
Les enthusiastically 
began studying 
piano undaunted 
by the fact that his 
wife was already 
an accomplished 
musician. Les 
enjoyed nature and 
the physical world 
through hiking, 
cycling, kayaking and Tai Chi. 
He loved exploring historical, 
cultural and culinary 
experiences whether local or 
while traveling abroad. 

HELPING OTHERS
Les’ interest in others was 
reflected in his weekly volunteer 
work with Temple Kol Ami’s 
food pantry where, in all kinds 
of weather, he methodically 
organized food supplies and 
warmly chatted with clients. 
Les possessed an insatiable 
curiosity for the workings 
and details of things from 
modern electronics to 
mechanical objects to art, 
and, of course, the medical 
world; he generously shared 
his expertise. 
Les was quick to recognize 
and praise others, yet modest 
about his own achievements. 
Those who knew Les often 
commented on his ability to 
broaden their world view with 
a humorous quip, a brief story 
or a scholarly reference. It 
seemed there was no topic Les 
hadn’t either considered or 
planned to study further.
Of all Les’ passions, his 
greatest love was for his 

beautiful and talented wife, 
Bonnie. They shared many 
interests and brought great joy 
to each other and to all who 
knew them.
Dr. Bricker is survived by 
his cherished wife, Bonnie 
Topper Bricker; beloved 
daughter, Sarah Bricker; 
son, Aaron Bricker; his 
dear sister, Sharon (Art) 
Bricker-Ferris; his beloved 
stepchildren, Sarah (Eric) 
Gutman and Michael (Eliza) 
Topper-Curtis; his adored 
grandchildren, Riley and 
Sydney Gutman, and Harriet 
and Sadie Topper-Curtis. Les 
is also survived by his first 
wife, Kathy Bricker; as well as 
countless loving friends and 
colleagues. 
He was predeceased by his 
brother, Stuart Bricker; and 
his parents, Lillian and Alfred 
Bricker.
Interment was at 
Machpelah Cemetery. 
Contributions may be 
made to Henry Ford 
Health Palliative Medicine 
Educational and Support 
Projects Fund, Henry Ford 
Health, Development Office, 
1 Ford Place, Suite 5A, 
Detroit, MI 48202-3450, 
henryford.com/development/
ways/memorials, (under 
“Gift Designation” select 
“Direct my gift to” / Scroll 
down to System Initiatives / 
Select “Palliative Medicine 
Educational and Support 
Projects Fund;” Yad Ezra, 
2850 W. 11 Mile Road, 
Berkley, MI 48072, yadezra.
org/donate; or Temple Kol 
Ami, Social Action Fund, 
5085 Walnut Lake Road, 
West Bloomfield, MI 48323, 
tkolami.org. Arrangements by 
Ira Kaufman Chapel. 

A Forerunner in Palliative Care

Dr. Leslie Bricker

