Remember city’s future

Last week, Houston lost Dr. John Mendelsohn, a physician and scientist who brilliantly planned and inspired the internationally renowned University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

I was a patient there much of 2004-2018, learning firsthand the esteem in which Mendelsohn was held and the shared devotion among all the health care professionals I encountered to make MD Anderson the greatest cancer center in the world.

Less well known is his consummate love of Houston and John’s deep civic involvements.

A telling example: In late 1999 while John and our wives were having dinner, I laid out the strategic plan and purposes of Center for Houston’s Future. John got that signature light in his eye, exclaiming, “That’s exactly what Houston needs! May I be a director?” Could he!

He became the first director and continued actively for two decades to infuse great ideas, motivating other civic leaders to “look over the horizon” and act on the opportunities and challenges facing our beloved region.

John cherished opera, serving as Chairman of Houston Grand Opera for many years.

We marveled at how one person could hold such deep intelligence and passion, on such a wide range of fields vital to humanity and our community. Gene Vaughan, Houston