In Memory

Michael Fredrick "Mike" Lanham - Class Of 1956

Michael Fredrick Mike Lanham

December 19, 1938 - May 13, 2008

Mike was born to Stuart King and Virginia Boot Lanham on December 19, 1938 in Santa Monica, CA and raised in South Pasadena. He attended local schools and was selected Outstanding Boy of the Year upon graduation from high school. Mike graduated from Princeton University. Immediately following graduation he married Susan Macfarlane in Huntington, New York on August 27, 1960. Following a year of working, playing in the big city and getting over school, he headed west to attend medical school at USC School of Medicine. He graduated in 1965, having served as class president his senior year, and went directly into an internship at L.A. County Hospital.

Following this year, he became the Chief Medical Officer in the Public Health Service at the El Reno Federal Reformatory in El Reno, Oklahoma. He completed a surgical residency at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital from 1968-1972. He practiced in Santa Barbara, and served for many years as Chief of Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, until a cardiac arrest laid him low in May of 1991. Seeing the direction of medicine, he decided to retire to Grand Junction, Colorado. Mike and Susan had just recently moved back to Santa Barbara to be closer to family.

Mike enjoyed his retirement in Grand Junction, where he could brag to friends he could ski and play a round of golf all in the same day. He made new friends and gave his time to making Grand Junction, and the world a better place, through his involvement with numerous organizations. He served on the board, and as President for two years, of the Grand Junction Symphony. He held various positions with the Redlands and Downtown Rotary Clubs, and was appointed District Governor of District 5470. Mike and Susan also enjoyed traveling, particularly to European destinations and Rotary functions.

He is survived by his wife of almost 48 years, Susan, his daughter and son-in-law Brent and Christine Kesterson of Santa Barbara, CA; his son and daughter-in-law Mike and Andrea Lanham of Redwood City, CA; grandchildren Jordyn Lanham of Grand Junction; Alexandra and Jack Lanham, and Mackenzie, Brock and Brody Kesterson, sister Mary Dorsett and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two children, Betsy and Timothy Jordan.

The Daily Sentinel, June 4, 2008