In Memoriam
Gary C. Lulenski
Gary Lulenski passed away on July 28, 2025 in Stevensville, Michigan. Here are his obituary and also the essay he wrote on the occasion of our 25th Class Reunion in 1989.
Obituary
Gary Lulenski
1964 Yale graduation
The Herald-Palladium (Southwest Michigan)
August 1, 2025
Dr. Gary Chester Lulenski, 81, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 28, 2025, in Stevensville. He was born Sept. 28, 1943, in Cleveland, to Chester and Eleanor (Cwiklinski) Lulenski.
After attending Yale University, Gary graduated from University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1968, then completed his internship at University of Chicago, did his residency at Loyola University Medical Center, finished his second residency at University of Michigan in 1976 and received certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He enjoyed his career as an Otolaryngologist for more than 30 years. The highlight of his career was opening his private otolaryngic allergy clinic in St. Joseph after working at Cedarwood Medical Center for many years. He also taught as an Adjunct Clinical Professor, Physician Assistant Program at Western Michigan University from 1986-89.
Gary Lulenski
in recent years
The Berry Plan allowed Gary to defer military service until after one year of residency, and he arrived in Bien Hoa, Vietnam as a captain and Medical Company Commander of 140 men. He was awarded a bronze star for his service as a surgeon during the war. He was proudly involved with Lest We Forget to continue to honor fellow veterans.
After his son, David, and stepson, Jason, sustained traumatic brain injuries, he worked with Mary Free Bed, where they rehabilitated, to create the Lulenski Residency in Neurological Physical Therapy, which continued for more than 20 years, thanks to the generous annual donation from the Lulenski family and is now an accredited program.
Gary enjoyed fishing, racquetball, skiing, watching sports (especially Michigan), reading suspense thrillers and historical fiction, playing Scrabble and playing cards with friends. He was an encyclopedia of historical facts and a world traveler who was able to visit numerous countries, mostly on cruise ships with his wife, Kaye.
He is survived by his sons: Michael Lulenski and David Lulenski; daughter-in-law, Heather Lulenski; stepchildren: Bryan (Shannon) Smith, Kristen Smith, and Jason (Susan) Smith; granddaughters: Sienna and Kelsey Lulenski; step-grandsons: Samuel (Amanda), Josh (Emily) and Andrew Wallace; step-great-granddaughter, Maddie Wallace; brother, Richard Lulenski and first wife, Mary Ann Lulenski.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn "Kaye" Lulenski; his son, Jeffrey Lulenski; his stepson, Bradley Smith and his brother, Steven Lulenski.
He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. A military memorial service will be planned in the Fall.
Memorial donations may be made to Mary Free Bed.
Essay, 25th Reunion Book
May 1989
I would have to say that this is a time in my life of continuing change and a need for acceptance of the philosophy of “one day at a time." Interestingly, my close friend Ken Nebel, whom I met my first year at Yale, has shared in all of these changes. We both went through divorce about five years ago and have both remarried. In the recent past my second wife was found to have breast cancer with metastasis and has gone through various agonies and has just completed six months of chemotherapy. That has forced both of us — and Ken has shared in this — into a position of being less certain of the present and the future. But our honeymoon was partly spent at Yale for my twentieth reunion and we intend to be there for the 25th. As a cancer surgeon, as I am, this process has probably been more rather than less difficult, but the love we shared has seen us through the past year, and we are thankful for it.
Now after ten years or more in the same structure I am changing to running my own practice, and great changes are still in process with relocating. Hopefully this summer will see a settling after all this period of furor, but I would say that there will be a continuing need for enjoying life at the present and for the present. Security 25 years after college was something I thought would be little to no problem when I viewed the future years ago. Now it seems very fragile — and some of it clearly out of control of each and everyone of us. Medicine has changed so much and so fast, so both my personal and professional life are filled with rapid movement, which I have tried hard to accept. Long ago I heard that wisdom is learning what you can change and what you can't and being willing to accept that. The struggles of the last year have emphasized that view of life.