Dr. Lennart A. Carlson

Dr. Lennart A. Carlson, formerly of Edison, N.J., Metuchen, N.J., Jackson, N.J., and Parrish, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Monmouth Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. Services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. at The Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave. (Route 27), Metuchen, followed by interment at Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains, N.J. Visitation is Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. To send condolences, please visit www.costello-runyon.com. Dr. Carlson was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., to Albin and Anna Carlson. Dr. Carlson settled in New Jersey in 1963, when he joined the Obstetrical & Gynecological Group of Metuchen, where he practiced until he retired. Lennart graduated from The University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., and Albany Medical School, Albany, N.Y. He served in the United States Army as a captain at Valley Forge Army Medical Base in Valley Forge, Pa., followed by four years with the United States Army Reserve. Lennart served as chief of staff at JFK Medical Center and was a respected doctor beloved by his peers, nurses, friends and children's friends. When he made friends they usually became lifelong friends. Lennart was an avid reader and a student of history. He valued education and was extremely smart. He would routinely complete the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle in ink. He grew up traveling with his parents, as his father's construction company built military houses and apartment buildings around the U.S. On a project in Dayton, Ohio, he met his wife across a fence; she was a local beauty queen who also loved to travel. Although they enjoying seeing foreign countries like Sweden, where his parents were from, they were advocates of "See America First," and visited 48 states. Lennart was a proud American who also relished his Swedish heritage. His love of golf allowed him many hours on the greens, and he even achieved a hole-in-one. He was a member of three country clubs, Metuchen, River Wilderness and Greenbrier West. His love of the Yankees led him to many games and World Series games. His love of music enabled him to jitterbug with his wife to their song, "Kansas City." He was a huge fan of jazz, which led him to the executive board of the New Jersey Jazz Society and enabled him to become close friends with many jazz musicians and other jazz lovers, and to attend recording sessions at studios in New York City. Lennart was predeceased by his beloved wife of 57 years, Dorothy Jean Carlson, and his grandson, Gary Daniel Lamar Jr. Surviving are his loving children, Linda and Gary Lamar of Beachwood, N.J., Laureen Carlson of Little Silver, N.J., Lennart Jr., Esq. and Yolanda Carlson of Princeton, N.J.; loving grandchildren, Lindsey Carnevale, Lennart Carlson III, Kyle Lamar, Melissa Coltenback, Kimberly Yacykewych and Kelly Wojcik, and adored great-grandchildren, Patrick, Trevor, Riley, Morgan, Matthew, Nicholas, Justin, and Tyler. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association, (alz.org).