Howard Willis Lindsey

Howard Willis Lindsey, M.D.

There is so much to remember on Veteran's Day - now we must add the passing of our beloved Howard Willis Lindsey, M.D. "H" died quietly in his sleep in the early morning hours of November 11th. He was 88 years old. In his life he was a father, husband, mentor, veteran, doctor, politician, crusader, handyman, investor and friend, most of the time all at once. H served in the US Navy, and then enlisted in the US Army where he served as a medic in Korea, earning a Purple Heart. In 1952 he returned home to San Mateo, CA, where he went into private practice near Mills Hospital. While raising four children - Jack, Ann, Bill and Peter - he and his partners Conway, Chamberlain and Reynolds worked to keep the people of San Mateo healthy for over 35 years. He was active in Planned Parenthood, served as President of the San Mateo County Medical Society, and as a delegate to both the California Medical Association and the AMA. When he wasn't crusading on behalf of his fellow physicians and patients, he was working around the house. No project was too big or too small for this consummate handyman.

In 1976 he remarried to Fern, his wife and devoted companion of 37 years, who also has four children - Rich, Michelle, Leslie Jo and Ted. They raised all eight children in San Mateo, and then moved to Reno, Nevada, where Fern and H were active in real estate.

H loved the outdoors and enjoyed taking his family to the Sierras, Clear Lake and Lake Tahoe where they often vacationed. He taught his children how to backpack, fly fish, water ski, and snow ski, all the time helping them with their homework.

When Ted Kennedy was remembering his brother Bobby, he said, "He saw wrong and tried to right it, he saw suffering and tried to heal it, he saw war and tried to stop it." That was our H. He had one chance at life, and he made as much of a difference as he could in the time he had. H loved to sing, and as we remember his life, we want him to know that his song will be in our hearts forever. From his dear wife Fern, his sister Jean, his 8 children, 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, and his sons and daughters in law - Thanks Pop!