Lester Harvey Karotkin

Lester Karotkin, M.D. was born on the 15th of December 1915 to Sue and Joe Karotkin in San Antonio, Texas. He died peacefully on the 27th of August 2010 at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, where he had been a member of the medical staff.

Dr. Karotkin attended the University of Texas at Austin and received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, in 1940. He completed a residency in pathology at UTMB-Galveston and a residency in internal medicine at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston. Dr. Karotkin entered the private practice of medicine in Houston in 1944. He was certified in the specialty of internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1949. Dr. Karotkin was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. He was a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Karotkin was an active member of Harris County Medical Society, where he held several offices, including that of President in 1968. He was a delegate to the Texas Medical Association, a Director of the Congress of County Medical Societies and a Director of the Private Medical Care Foundation. Dr. Karotkin served on the editorial board of the journal Private Practice. He served as President of the Medical Staff of Sharpstown Hospital in 1978. During his career, he held medical staff privileges at The Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Hermann Hospital and others. He was a founding member of the Foundation for the Houston Museum of Medical Science, where he served as President of the Board in 1982.

Dr. Karotkin is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Elizabeth Davis Karotkin; son, Don Karotkin and wife Kathy; daughter, Jane Karotkin; grandchildren, John W. Karotkin, D.D.S. and wife Alyssa, Emily Karotkin Parsons and husband Jacob, and Kirk Campbell; and nieces, Carol Karotkin and Linda Karotkin Finger.

The family expresses its deep gratitude to the medical and nursing staffs of The Methodist Hospital, who gave excellent, compassionate care to Dr. Karotkin during his last illness.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances during a reception at three o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 1st of September, in the Living Room of the Forum at Memorial Woods, 777 North Post Oak Road, in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family respectfully suggests contributions to be directed to the John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center at Houston Academy of Medicine, 1133 John Freeman Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030; or Texas Medical Center Library, 1133 John Freeman Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030.