Albert Conrad Lesneski

Albert Conrad Lesneski MD age 78 of Concord and more recently of Westford, passed away at home quietly, surrounded by his family on April 8, 2015. Bert was the beloved husband of Carol (Schmidt) Lesneski and the late Mary (Moench) Lesneski. Cherished Father of Diane B. Lesneski Auger and husband Kris of Lincoln, MA; Reid D. and his wife Dawn of York, ME; Kathryn C. of Boston, and Connor V. of Grand Isle, VT. Grandfather of Samuel S. Gifford, Jessica L. Auger, Erika J. Auger, Zoe G. Lesneski and Emilie M. Auger.

Bert was born in Bridgeport, CT on July 15, 1936 to Vincent L. and Ruth F. Lesneski of Elizabeth, NJ. As the son of the Athletic Director and private school teacher "Les", Bert grew up on the original campus of the Pingry School in Elizabeth. His love of education, literary knowledge, vocabulary, history, sciences and languages were the beginning of a skillset that propelled Bert throughout his life. He was an outstanding athlete, lettering in all sports, including football, baseball, swimming and wrestling. His family owned Camp Waganaki in East Waterford, ME. Here, Bert developed his love of nature and the outdoors, spending his summers as an avid outdoorsman, camping and canoeing, with a love for American Indian lore. He was a water and wilderness skills expert, renowned for his fireside tales and character portayal. Following his graduation from Pingry School in 1954, Bert attended Princeton University where he was inducted into the Tiger Inn, the Eating Club, and the Ivy Club. A Princeton grad, class of 1958, he then attended medical school at Colombia College of Physicians and Surgeons at Presbyterian Hospital and finished his internship at St. Luke's Hospital. He married Mary Louise Moench in 1959. Diane Blake was born in 1962, ironically with Bert delivering another baby in the delivery room next door. He completed his four-year residency in Surgery and Medicine with a specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the Cornell New York Hospital Center in 1968.

Bert was drafted into the United States Air Force in 1968. The family moved to England, Bert, a Major stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England until 1971. Reid was born in England in 1968. Here Bert developed a love for flower and vegetable gardening, a hobby he enjoyed throughout his life. Being close to Europe, Bert and Mary traveled extensively and his immersion into culture, traditions, history and languages deepened. He was a collector of fine antiques and art.

The family returned to Concord, MA in 1971, when Bert accepted the invitation to join Dr. Ernest Smith and Dr. Richard Gallagher in their practice at Emerson Hospital in Concord. Through his thoughtful practice of medicine, Bert and his family were grateful to be immersed in Concord's growing community. Tragically, Mary was killed in an automobile accident in 1978 which nearly took Bert's life. Against all odds, he survived and resumed practice. He married Carol Marie Schmidt in 1980, and celebrated the births of his children Kathryn Conrad in 1989 and Connor Vincent in 1992. Lesneski family summers were centered around the natural beauty of Squam Lake in Holderness, NH for the next 25 years. He truly embraced the art of fishing, all styles, and often caught "the Biggest Fish!" in the lake, a story he loved to tell.

Bert's legacy touched thousands of lives, bringing more than 5000 babies into the world before his retirement in 1998. After retiring, Bert easily transitioned into his love of coaching and teaching at Lincoln Sudbury High School, CCHS and The Fenn School. He was a strong presence in the community as a member of the Vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church and supporting Emerson Hospital, The Rotary Club, The Concord Carlisle Community Chest, the Concord Country Club, the Fenn School and he was a founding trustee for the CCPools and the Beede Center. He will be greatly missed by many.

A Memorial Service of Thanksgiving for Bert's life will be held on Saturday, May 16th, 2015 at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street in Concord. Reception to follow at the Fenn School.


Gifts in his memory may be made to:
Friends for Tomorrow
P. O. Box 213
Lincoln, MA 01773
www.friendsfortomorrow.org

The Concord Rotary Charitable Endowment, Inc.
P.O. Box 455
Concord, MA 01742.