Dr. Wendell Leroy Leach

Wendell Leroy Leach was born, November 23, 1929 to the union of the late Ralph Emerson Leach and Lillian Leontyne Henderson, in Detroit, MI. He was the second of four sons, Ralph Jr., Wendell, Melvin, and Irving Leach. All his brothers preceded him in death. Wendell and his family lived on the West side of Detroit for decades. Wendell accepted Christ at an early age at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church where his mother taught Sunday School. He attended Detroit Public Schools; Sampson Elementary and Northwestern High School. He was a member of the Northwestern 1947 City Wide Basketball Champions prior to his graduation the same year.

Education was important to the Leach family his parents were graduates of historically black colleges. (Ralph Leach Sr. graduated in 1917 from Biddle College, now Johnson C. Smith University. Lillian Henderson graduated in 1919 from Atlanta University, now Clark Atlanta University). Wendell then followed his eldest brother Ralph Jr, to Howard University which he attended for one year prior to gaining admission to Wayne University. Periodically, he had summer jobs in the foundry to earn money for his education. He was initiated into the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in December 1950. While at Wayne, he majored in Chemistry, and graduated on January 29, 1953. Soon thereafter, he married a member of the court of the Alpha Phi Alpha Sweethearts Ball, Arthuree Jeter, whom he dated while attending Wayne University. To this union two daughters were born, Leslie Robin Leach and Carolyn Suzanne Leach.

In 1953 Wendell Leach entered the Wayne University, College of Medicine. At that time, this class had the largest enrollment of African American medical students. Wendell graduated from Wayne State University, School of Medicine in June 1957. He was one of four graduating African American students in the class During medical school and thereafter, he was a devoted member of the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical fraternity.

After medical school, in 1957 Wendell did his internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Detroit. He accepted a surgical residency at Pontiac General Hospital, a program affiliated with University of Michigan, in 1958. He completed his surgical residency in 1963. In 1964 Wendell opened his first office located at 10811 E. Warren in Detroit, where he practiced as a physician and general surgeon for many years. For several years he also worked as a City physician, taking house calls at night all over Detroit. While pursuing his own practice, he also acquired the practice of Ralston S. Mitchell, MD. He consolidated the East Warren offices into his office at the Professional Plaza, near the Detroit Medical Center. During his 36 year practice Wendell Leach had privileges at numerous Detroit Area hospitals including but not limited to Burton Mercy Hospital, Woodward General Hospital, Lakeside Hospital, Alexander Blain Hospital, Southwest Hospital and Riverview Hospital. He also held medical staff director status at several of these hospitals as well. He retired from private practice in October, 1999.

While medicine was at the center of his life, he also enjoyed sports. Football games on Sunday; basketball whether high school, college or professional; and most of all, tennis, any day and anytime. He traveled to numerous countries with family, friends and Wayne State Alumni. Most of all he enjoyed visiting his daughters in California as often as possible. He loved music, but especially, jazz. Dad had personal friends who were local jazz musicians, such as Barry Harris, and Kenny Burrell. It was not uncommon to find him at Bakers Keyboard Lounge any given weekend. His love for music stayed with him until his last days. Even though his movement waned, his toes continued to dance to each and every beat of the music, as long as it played on.

Wendell Leach passed from this life, quietly and peacefully, early the morning of May 8, 2019. Wendell leaves to cherish his memory: his two daughters, Attorney Leslie R. Leach and Dr. Carolyn S. Leach.; nieces, Michele Leach, Sharon Leach, Robin Leach; nephews, Ralph Leach, Robert Leach, Guy Leach; cherished friend Sharon Ferrigan, and other beloved family members, friends, caregivers, and colleagues.