ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Dr. Leslie F. Bond Sr., of St. Louis, passed from this life on March 21, 2013, at the McKnight Place Extended Care after an extended illness. A memorial service celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Bond will be Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 11 a.m. (CT) at Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103.
Dr. Bond was born in Louisville, Ky. to Ona and Dr. Henry Bond on Feb. 20, 1928. His family moved to Galesburg, Ill., where he grew up among many loving friends and family. He graduated valedictorian of Galesburg High School in 1944 at the age of 16 and matriculated to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ill. Upon graduation from the University of Illinois, Dr. Bond received his medical degree from Meharry School of Medicine in 1952 like his father before him. Upon graduation from medical school, he began his medical residency in St. Louis at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, where he received superb training in internal medicine and general surgery. It was during this time that he met and married the love of his life, Anita Grace Lyons, a speech pathologist and went on to practice medicine out of his offices on Easton Avenue and Kingshighway for over 50 years.
Dr. Bond started his private medical practice in 1958 and retired in 2003 treating generations of patients. He was widely admired for his surgical skills and warm and caring bedside manner. He was an active practicing physician on the staffs of Christian Hospital, DePaul Hospital, and Forest Park Hospital and was an assistant in Clinical Surgery at Washington University. From 1996-1998, he served as Medical Director of Peoples Health Center. During his medical career, he served as Trustee of the National Medical Association, resident of the Mound City Medical Forum, President of the Missouri Pan-Medical Association, President of the Homer G. Phillips Interns' Association, Chair of the Medicaid Advisory Committee, State of Missouri, where he served for 20 years, and Chairman of the Surgical Section of the National Medical Association. Among many professional accolades, he was recognized as the Health Professional of the Year by The United Way for his outstanding contributions to the health community as well as the Salute to Excellence in Health Care Award from the St. Louis American Foundation.
Throughout his career, Dr. Bond was also very involved in the civic and community affairs of the City of St. Louis. He has been a member of Central Baptist Church for several decades. He was appointed by Governor Carnahan to serve on the St. Louis Police Board and by Mayor Slay to serve on the St. Louis Police Retirement Board. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP and former President of the St. Louis chapter of the Guardsmen Inc., a national social club of professional men. He belonged to the ETA Boule Chapter of St. Louis; and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Along with his wife Anita of 58 years, Dr. Bond was recently named by the St. Louis Post Dispatch as one of St. Louis' top 100 inspirational citizens.
Dr. Bond was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Henrice Bond; and one brother, Charles Bond. His second son, Erik Lyons Bond, passed away tragically at age 24.
His survivors include his wife of 58 years, Anita Lyons Bond; his two children, Leslie F. Bond Jr., Chicago, and Candace Bond McKeever (Steve) of Malibu Beach, Calif. Dr. Bond was also the proud grandfather of three wonderful grandchildren, Noelle Bond, Brent McKeever and Maddox Bond McKeever. Also surviving are one sister, Patsy Ruth Bond-Berry of Galesburg, Ill.; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends and extended family.

Published in The Register-Mail on April 7, 2013

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Dr. Leslie F. Bond Sr., of St. Louis, passed from this life on March 21, 2013, at the McKnight Place Extended Care after an extended illness. A memorial service celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Bond will be Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 11 a.m. (CT) at Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103.
Dr. Bond was born in Louisville, Ky. to Ona and Dr. Henry Bond on Feb. 20, 1928. His family moved to Galesburg, Ill., where he grew up among many loving friends and family. He graduated valedictorian of Galesburg High School in 1944 at the age of 16 and matriculated to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ill. Upon graduation from the University of Illinois, Dr. Bond received his medical degree from Meharry School of Medicine in 1952 like his father before him. Upon graduation from medical school, he began his medical residency in St. Louis at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, where he received superb training in internal medicine and general surgery. It was during this time that he met and married the love of his life, Anita Grace Lyons, a speech pathologist and went on to practice medicine out of his offices on Easton Avenue and Kingshighway for over 50 years.
Dr. Bond started his private medical practice in 1958 and retired in 2003 treating generations of patients. He was widely admired for his surgical skills and warm and caring bedside manner. He was an active practicing physician on the staffs of Christian Hospital, DePaul Hospital, and Forest Park Hospital and was an assistant in Clinical Surgery at Washington University. From 1996-1998, he served as Medical Director of Peoples Health Center. During his medical career, he served as Trustee of the National Medical Association, resident of the Mound City Medical Forum, President of the Missouri Pan-Medical Association, President of the Homer G. Phillips Interns' Association, Chair of the Medicaid Advisory Committee, State of Missouri, where he served for 20 years, and Chairman of the Surgical Section of the National Medical Association. Among many professional accolades, he was recognized as the Health Professional of the Year by The United Way for his outstanding contributions to the health community as well as the Salute to Excellence in Health Care Award from the St. Louis American Foundation.
Throughout his career, Dr. Bond was also very involved in the civic and community affairs of the City of St. Louis. He has been a member of Central Baptist Church for several decades. He was appointed by Governor Carnahan to serve on the St. Louis Police Board and by Mayor Slay to serve on the St. Louis Police Retirement Board. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP and former President of the St. Louis chapter of the Guardsmen Inc., a national social club of professional men. He belonged to the ETA Boule Chapter of St. Louis; and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Along with his wife Anita of 58 years, Dr. Bond was recently named by the St. Louis Post Dispatch as one of St. Louis' top 100 inspirational citizens.
Dr. Bond was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Henrice Bond; and one brother, Charles Bond. His second son, Erik Lyons Bond, passed away tragically at age 24.
His survivors include his wife of 58 years, Anita Lyons Bond; his two children, Leslie F. Bond Jr., Chicago, and Candace Bond McKeever (Steve) of Malibu Beach, Calif. Dr. Bond was also the proud grandfather of three wonderful grandchildren, Noelle Bond, Brent McKeever and Maddox Bond McKeever. Also surviving are one sister, Patsy Ruth Bond-Berry of Galesburg, Ill.; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends and extended family.

Published in The Register-Mail on April 7, 2013