Leonilo Lumang Malabed
September 24, 1922 - October 19, 2017
Dr. Leonilo Lumang Malabed passed away peacefully on October 19, 2017; he was 95 years young. Leo was born in Batac, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines to Carlos and Salud Lumang Malabed. As a young man, he took part in the WWII resistance against the Japanese occupation, then moved to Manila for college and medical school at the University of the Philippines. Leo was a great believer in the American Dream and so he came to San Francisco in 1954 to complete his medical residency, and this is where he met the beautiful surgical nurse Yvonne Lagerfeld. From their first encounter until her death in 2012, Leo cherished her. He was predeceased by his siblings Ernesta Yapo, Eusebia Calacal Gapas, and Virginio Malabed. Leo is survived by his sister Gloria Malabed, a large extended family and his six daughters and their families: Mary Anne (Michael Eagelston), Karlita Lili (Steve Heilig), Patrice (Walter Willig), Susanne (Gregor Mendieta), Kati (Anil Hari), and Barbra (Ben Lewis). He was so proud of his daughters and eight grandchildren: Lauren and Sarah Eagelston, Reed and Cameron Willig, Olivia Mendieta, Nikhil and Kailash Hari, and Claire Lewis.
Leo took pride in opening the Bataan Memorial Medical Building in San Francisco’s Mission District. He practiced family medicine and surgery there for almost 60 years, and at Seton Medical Center (formerly Mary’s Help Hospital) and Saint Luke’s Hospital. He was known for seeing patients whether they could pay or not and for delivering hundreds of babies, many of whom grew up to know him as adults.
A pioneer of Filipino leadership in the Bay Area, Leo was active and once president of Annac Ti Batac, the Filipino Professional Businessman’s Association, and the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California, for whom he led medical missions to the Philippines. Leo was a member of University of Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America and publisher of “Filipino American,” a newspaper published in Sacramento. As Co-Chairman of the San Francisco Sister City Organization, he was instrumental in bringing rare Filipino plants to our Arboretum as well as insuring that Filipino history and culture were represented in the Asian Art Museum and San Francisco Public Library. He was Chairman of the Board of Mission National Bank in 1982.
Leo loved people and saw potential in everyone. Countless men and women have remarked that he was like a second father to them as they recall his warmth, generosity of time, support, advice and encouragement. His love of people and good-natured practical joking endeared him to persons far and wide. He always made sure everyone was very well fed and he never failed to entertain with his interpretation of the Chicken Dance. His family expresses endless gratitude to his “adopted” son, Dr. Tony Wong, and his best friend Edna, who was ever by his side.
Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 10 at St. Anne’s of the Sunset in San Francisco. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org).