Roger C. Lindeman M.D.

1935 - 2018

Roger C. Lindeman, MD

Roger C. Lindeman, MD was born to Reginald Lindeman and Francis Erickson in Detroit, Michigan on July 24, 1935. He died on October 30, 2018.

Dr. Lindeman attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, followed by undergraduate college at Wayne State University. He then attended Wayne State University School of Medicine. On August 22, 1958, he married his grade school friend and long time sweetheart, Lillian J. Kashmerick.

He then served his internship at the University of Colorado Medical Center - Denver General Hospital, followed by a year of general surgery training at St. Joseph Hospital, also in Denver. Then, residency in otolaryngology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, where he also served as a teaching fellow in otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School.

Following completion of his residency in 1965, he served for two years in the United States Army, having been drafted for military service during the Viet Nam War. As a captain in the army, he was appointed Chief of Otolaryngology at Valley Forge General Hospital Pennsylvania, and consultant to the surgeon general of the United States.

Upon completion of his military service, he and his family moved to Seattle, WA to join the Mason Clinic and the Virginia Mason Medical Center in 1968. He soon developed a reputation for excellence and innovation in otolaryngologic surgery. His passion for research led to the development of tracheal diversion technique which became known nationally as the Lindeman procedure. As time went on, his main surgical focus became disorders of the ear and hearing. He was a pioneer in the Pacific Northwest in the otologic surgical approach for the excision of acoustic tumors. He was appointed Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Washington, and received Teacher of the Year award from that institution.

At Virginia Mason, he gradually assumed an administrative role, becoming Head of the section of Otolaryngology in 1973, then Chief of Surgery in 1976. In 1980, he was elected Chairman of the Mason Clinic, a position which soon became Chairman and CEO of the Virginia Mason Medical Center. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 2000. During his tenure as Chairman and CEO, Virginia Mason grew significantly in physicians and staff, as well as in physical facilities both at the downtown Seattle campus and in satellite locations. More importantly, Dr. Lindeman will be remembered for his unrelenting emphasis on top quality care for patients.

He was very active in national medical administrative organizations, and served as President of the American Medial Group Association 1988-1989, and President of the American College of Physician Executives 1990 - 1991. He received the Medical Executive of the Year Award in 1990 from the American College of Medical Group Administrators. Upon his retirement from Virginia Mason, a building on the downtown campus, the Lindeman Pavilion, was named in his honor.

In his free time, Dr. Lindeman was an accomplished golfer and taught all of his children and grandchildren to play. He loved learning about the sport and was always eager to improve his game.

He is survived by Lillian, his wife of 60 years, three children (Lauren Lindeman, Brian Lindeman, and Kevin Lindeman), and by three grandsons (Jason, Erik, and Scott Lindeman).

A service for family and close friends will be held on Friday, November 9, 2018, at 1:00 pm at

Sunset Hills Memorial Park, 1215 145th Pl SE, Bellevue, 98007.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 18, 2018, at 2:00 pm, at Virginia Mason, Lindeman Pavilion 1st Floor - Volney Auditorium, 1201 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

Remembrances may be made to "The Roger C. Lindeman, MD Transforming Health Care Fund" (contact Virginia Mason Foundation at 206-583-6083).