The World, Coos Bay, OR., August 27, 1996, section 1, page 5
Includes portrait

LESTER MEISTER, MD

At his request, no services will be held for Lester Meister, MD, 85, of Coos Bay. He was born Jan. 1, 1911, at New York, to immigrants Albert Meister and Jennie Radvill Meister, and died Aug. 24, 1996, at Coos Bay of a brief illness. He spent his early years in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his four sisters and a brother.He was a graduate of Staunton Military Academy, Dartmouth College in 1932 and of Harvard Medical School in 1936. He married Irene Kier of Boston while still in internal medicine in New York City. During World War II, Dr. Meister served in the Army Air Corps at Randolph Field, Texas. After the war, he entered private practice in Los Angeles and later joined the Veterans Administration and the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine as a clinical professor, first in Los Angeles and later in Long Beach. He married Betty McLain Cronkrite in 1975, and they retired to Coos Bay in 1980, where they were active in community affairs. Dr. Meister was known as a superb diagnostician and esteemed teacher of medical residents, according to his family. He was ahead of his time in recognizing the significance of risk factors for chronic disease and by incorporating this knowledge into his own life he was able to remain vigorous will into his 80's, despite having a family history of severe heart disease. Even in his retirement he stayed abreast of the medical literature, corresponded frequently with the editors of the Merck Manual, the New England Journal of Medicine and actively participated in his own medical care. Almost as important to him as his interest in medicine was his love of classical music. He was an avid sailor and collector of gadgets. Dr. Meister was preceded in death by his brother Erving and sister Florence, Brunella and Muriel. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Coos Bay, former wife and dear friend, Irene Meister of Tucson, Ariz.; son, Joel Meister of Tucson; daughter, Nina of Sausalito, Calif.; grandchildren Matthew Meister and Rachel of Tucson, Adam Meister of New York City; and stepsons John McLain of Lake Oswego, Stacy McLain of Eugene and Scott McLain of Coos Bay. The family suggests memorial contributions in his memory to the Harvard Medical School, Dean of Admitting/Financial Aid, Beyerly Hall No. 8, Garden St., Cambridge Mass. 02138. Coos Bay Chapel is in charge of arrangements. 267-3131.