Dr. Erwin Lear recently passed away after having a long and successful career as an anesthesiologist. To the “over-50” anesthesiologists, Erwin needs no introduction. To those, however, unaware of Dr. Lear’s accomplishments, I’ve rewritten my biography of his career as it appeared in the ASA NEWSLETTER In January 1998. I had just replaced Erwin as ASA NEWSLETTER Editor.
Fourteen years of service to a Society is a long time. When one considers that this service involved the direction and proofreading of a 36-page monthly magazine, words like dedication, per-severance and loyalty are used. Thus, Erwin Lear, M.D., graciously stepped down as the ASA NEWSLETTER’s 14th editor to a standing ovation of ASA delegates and a round of most-deserved back-slapping accolades.
Few may know that the ASA NEWSLETTER editorship was not Erwin’s first sojourn into the adventures of grammar and composition. Actually, he became interested in writing while matriculating at...