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Dr. Lester Warren Martin
1923 - 2020
Dr. Lester Warren Martin
1923 - 2020
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Lester Martin Obituary
Bellbrook - Dr. Lester Warren Martin of Bellbrook, formerly of Cincinnati, passed on March 13, 2020, after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure. Les was born on August 15, 1923, in Edwards, Missouri, on a small family farm in the Ozarks in the midst of the Great Depression. He wouldn't have left the farm had it not been for the encouragement of a high school teacher who realized his potential. He encouraged Les to pursue a livestock judging competition that led to a scholarship to the University of Missouri. Les graduated, earned a second degree in veterinary medicine, served in the military in World War II and then pursued a career in medicine. He graduated from Harvard Medical School, where he met his wife and life partner Joan, and then trained at Boston's Children's Hospital, where he ultimately finished his training as a pediatric surgeon.
Les moved to Cincinnati and was the Chief of Surgery at Cincinnati Children's Hospital for 32 years. He was a pioneer in modernizing pediatric surgical techniques that are still used today. He trained surgeons throughout the world on his innovative method to perform surgery on children with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. He developed a technique, that would later be named for him, for using parts of the small intestine to create a new reservoir for diseased colon and to preserve surrounding muscles and bowel tissue. The Lester Martin Pull Through Method eliminated the need for a child to use an ostomy bag. He also performed the first successful kidney transplant in Ohio, in June 1965, and the child went on to live a full life.
The true measure of his work was the compassion he showed for his patients and their families. His humble ways earned him the respect of his colleagues and truly all who knew him. By the time he retired, Les had changed the lives of thousands of children and their families. He loved going to work each day, often working countless hours for weeks on end. When he wasn't working, his passion was anything agriculture. He raised and showed champion bulls and was an avid gardener.
Les was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 65 years Joan Belanger Martin and his daughter Sally Martin Stewart. He is survived by his daughters Betsy (Mark) Smith, Susan (Al) Weinert, Janet (Stuart) Bertolino and his son David (Cindy) Martin, 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss his wisdom and guidance each day.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Cincinnati Children's, 3333 Burnet Ave, ML 4900, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3026 (https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/giving). You are also invited to send a condolence or share a story about Lester on his Online Book of Memories by going to www.ConnerAndKoch.com and click on his name. Private Family Graveside Services were held.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Frank Schuler
November 10, 2021
Dr. Martin performed an appendectomy on me in 1964. I believe that, in doing this, he saved my life. Thank you, Dr. Martin!
Lisa Cocco
July 27, 2021
In 1974, when I was almost 9, Dr. Martin left his Thanksgiving dinner to rush to me because I was a code blue emergency patient with a severed hand cut through the nerves and arteries. I was at my Grandmothers house, and visiting with my GreatAunt who lived upstairs. We had finished dinner and were waiting for "The Waltons" to start. My aunt offered me a 7up, the kind in the thick green glass bottles. This was such a treat for me, especially since I only had milk at the dinner downstairs. I talked for awhile, then heard through the vent the music at the start of the show, so went running as fast as I could down the old steep steps, bottle still in hand. That was the last I remembered before waking up in Children's Hospital. Dr. Martin not only saved my hand, but reattached nerves and arteries so that eventually it could be fully functional. I was at Childrens for 3 weeks, finally being released with bandages around my hand that were wrapped so high it was like carrying a ball around with me. My parents were deeply indebted to him, my father had pulled his tshirt off to make a tourniquet to stop the raging blood loss from my arm, and he later told me the EMT said that probably saved my life, but I may lose my hand. I am so blessed that Dr. Martin was the one who was the surgeon, and reattached every vessel , nerve artery in order to save my hand. I will forever be indebted to him, and I thank his family for understanding when their husband/father left his own holiday meal. Today there is a large scar on the inside of my hand, with still a few pins and needles nerves upon touch. He completely saved my hand, when others may have just went another route. I am sorry to hear he has passed, and I never got to properly thank him.
Micha Daoud
April 17, 2020
My condolences to the family of Dr. Martin. I know he will be dearly missed. I was honored to have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Martin at Chidlren's Hospital, as a RN, for about 6 years. His first priority was always patient care, and he expected all the staff to uphold high standards of care for all patients. In this regard, he taught me so many lessons. In addition, to having the privilege of working with Dr. Martin, my family benefited from his talents when my sister, at age 23, was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis. Dr. Martin agreed to perform her surgery, as the creator of, and only surgeon doing new pouch and pull-thru procedure. He made arrangements to use an operating room at neighboring Holmes Hospital, and gave my sister a new life. Now in her mid-60s, my sister is an active and busy grandmolther. Dr. Martin gave many gifts of new life to countless people. My family remains grateful for him. With deepest symphaties, Micha Daoud
Kenneth Renner
April 10, 2020
Thank you for all that you have done for so many
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Elisa Hoskins
April 10, 2020
I am so sadden to hear about Dr. Martins passing. I want to express my deepest sympathy to his family first of all. He was such an incredible man who had a heart of gold taking care of his patients. I was so lucky to be one of them and he saved my life. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at the age of 19 and suffered for many years. I was so sick that other doctors told me I was going to die because my body couldn't take much more. My Mother had heard of a doctor at Children's Hospital that was doing a new type of surgery that was still in the trial stage, but very successful that he researched in France. It was removing the Colon and cutting the small intestine into a "pouch" inside, along with making a temporary ileostomy. Once the pouch is healed in 6 month, It would be "pulled through" and then becomes the new colon, a second surgery would then be reattached and then an ostomy wouldn't be needed any longer. I was the 112 person to have it done and today it is a routine surgery! He was so kind and compassionate the whole way through and knew I was in such safe and in excellent hands. He loved what he did and it showed by the way he wanted to help people and especially children. 30 years later, I still to this day think about him from time to time and wondered how he was doing and if he was enjoying his retirement. I want to tell his family "Thank You" for sharing such a smart and caring man for so many years. If there is a person who is superhero, he definitely would be top on the list. I am so grateful to have him as my doctor. Bless You.
Dr. Martin and Riva Lehrer
Riva Lehrer
April 9, 2020
Dear Family of Lester Martin,
I am but one of the countless people who exist because of Dr. Martin. I was born in 1958 with spinal bifida. He operated on me at least 30 times, until I was 18 years old. I adored him, as did my mother (who worked at Children's for two of his colleagues, Dr. Warkany and Dr. Sabin). I have a memoir coming out this fall (Golem Girl, via Penguin/Random House) that talks about Dr. Martin and my time growing up in the hospital. I would be pleased to send someone a copy when it comes out.
Also, my brother and I visited him in 2014, out on his farm. I'm sending a photo from that day.
I am so, so grateful for your magnificent father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, companion. Please feel free to contact me when and if it feels right.
With the warmest possible thoughts and deepest condolences,
Riva Lehrer
Paul & Patricia K.
April 9, 2020
Dr. Martin saved our wonderful daughter's life in 1972, and she in turn now has 5 delightful children. We are all eternally grateful for his medical expertise. Also, he was so gracious in explaining all aspects of the surgery to us in advance...to put our minds at ease. He was an incredible person! Our heartfelt sympathy to his family.
Denise H
April 8, 2020
My deepest sympathies to his family. He saved my Son's life in 1981 and I am forever grateful to him. Rest in Peace and thank you for all that you did for us and the families at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
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