Dr. Melvin Glazer passed away on April 28 at the age of 84.
Devoted to his family, and for many years the practice of medicine, Mel was a beloved doctor, husband, father and grandfather.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Herman and Anna Glazer, he grew up with siblings Alice and David, helping out in his parents’ grocery store before attending Drake University, graduating in 1962. He began his path to a career in medicine at the University of Iowa Medical School, graduating in 1966, interning at Philadelphia General Hospital and then returning to the University of Iowa for his residency.
He met his future wife, Elaine, through his cousin in Chicago in 1965. Mel and Elaine married in 1967 and remained together for 58 years.
During the Vietnam War, Mel served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy from 1970 to 1972, stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After concluding his naval service, Mel and Elaine chose Kansas City to put down roots, and they raised their three children, Debra, Ruben and Brian, there. Mel was a partner of the Kansas City Medical Group, where he practiced internal medicine for 38 years. He loved the practice of medicine, became the president of staff of Baptist Hospital and served on the board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City for 25 years.
When he took off the white coat, Mel genuinely enjoyed life and appreciated the gift of good health: gardening, barbecues, long walks with the dog and summers as the camp doctor in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.
After retiring, Mel and Elaine spent eight years enjoying the desert heat of Scottsdale, Arizona, eventually moving to Seattle, Washington, in 2024. He loved swimming, traveling, and his family most of all.
Mel is survived by Elaine; children Debra (Doug), Ruben (Stacey) and Brian (Sarah); and 11 grandchildren: Jacob, Tye, Daniel, Aharon, Cooper, Chaim Yaakov, Lucy, Miriam Golda, Harper, Elisheva and Avigayil.
Graveside services were held on May 1 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Kline Galland Senior Care (klinegalland.org/philanthropy/how-to-give), Congregation Beth Shalom in Kansas (bethshalomkc.shulcloud.com/payment.php), Beth Shalom Synagogue of Seattle (bethshalomseattle.org/donate) and Ohr Tzion Synagogue in Scottsdale (congregationortzion.org/give/donate).
Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel.com.