Dr. Howard C. Comstock

Dr. Howard C. Comstock East Lansing Dr. Howard Comstock passed away on September 26, 2008. He was a well-known, loved and respected Lansing pediatrician. Born in Monroe, Michigan on October 21, 1925. He was the youngest of four children for Florence and Howard McDowell who owned and operated the first pharmacy in Monroe County. Howard attended the Hall of Divine Child and Monroe High School. In 1943 he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps, and was assigned to Dartmouth College for basic training, followed by pre-flight at Chapel Hill, NC: then flight school in Indiana and Pensacola. He was one of four officers in his regiment to be recognized for outstanding studies and sports (all around). Dr. Comstock earned his B.S. degree in 1951, followed by a year of rotating internship at Louisville General Hospital, and then a three-year pediatric residency at the University of Michigan. (This was during the horrific polio epidemic). He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, Undergraduate Honorary Society, and also Alpha Omega Alpha, an honorary Medical Society. Elected President of his Medical Class during junior year. Howard started private pediatric in Lansing in 1954 and retired in 1998. During those years he was on active staff at St. Lawrence, Sparrow and Ingham Medical Hospitals. He will be remembered in his capacity as Chief-of-Staff at St. Lawrence Hospital (1960-1970), and Chief of Pediatrics (1968-1985) Elected President of Ingham County Medical Society in 1974, and then President of the Central Michigan Pediatric Society. In 1970 Dr. Comstock presented plans for a Community Pediatric Residency. After the Ingham County Medical Society supported this motion, Howard became a Clinical Professor at Michigan State Medical School, and first Director of their Pediatric Residency. Twice he received the Pediatric Residency Award. As co-founder of the Pediatric After-Hours Clinic at St. Lawrence he remained President for fifteen years. During these years Howard participated in research program for infectious disease with two specialists, Doctors Donald Anderson and Fletcher Murphy. He was also Chairman and Medical Advisory at the Beekman Center and Walnut Street School for the Handicapped and Advisor to both Social Services and Michigan Pediatric Society, adoption agencies. Dr. Comstock was the Membership Chairman and Board Member of the first Medical/Dental building in Lansing where his Grand River office continues to care for pediatric patients under the supervision of Dr. Ho-Ming Yian. Non-medical memberships include St. Thomas Aquinas Church, the University Club of MSU, Walnut Hills Country Club, Court One Athletic Club and Charter member of the MAC. Howard always expressed deep love for his family, pediatric career, all sports, music, books and the University of Michigan Athletics. He is survived by his wife, Polly Comstock of East Lansing; four physician sons: Dr. Hod (Janice) of Tucson, AZ, Dr. Curt (Faustine) of Los Gatos, CA, Dr. Frank (Jody) of Tucson, AZ, Dr. Christopher (Lynne) of Corpus, TX; one daughter, Paula Jean Bosch of Petoskey; his brother, Dr. Frank Comstock of Ann Arbor; and sixteen grandchildren. Howard was preceded in death by his oldest brother, John and sister, Hildreth Branlich of Monroe, MI. The Memorial Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 30, 2008 with the Reverend David J. Speicher officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The internment will be in the Comstock Family Plot in Monroe, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Children's Education Fund, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, MI or a children's charity of your choice. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing, MI.