Lester Sabolich

Lester James Sabolich, founder of Sabolich Prosthetic and Research Center, passed from this earth to eternal life on December 10, 2010. He was born In Ft. Reno, Oklahoma, to John (Ivan) Sabolich and Mary Vaughn Sabolich (later Kurk) on March 28, 1921. His father was an immigrant from Yugoslavia, and his mother of Cherokee decent, making Lester a true Oklahoman. His family struggled through the tough times of the Great Depression, and he found many interesting ways to take care of himself, including riding the rails with hobos all the way to California three different times, starting when he was only a young teen. At the age of 18, he found his life's calling when he began working for an orthotist in Oklahoma City. He began the trade that would be the foundation of four generations of the Sabolich family, fitting, developing, researching and manufacturing of braces and prosthetic devices. He then obtained employment at the OKC University Hospitals' Orthotic Lab, where he was mentored and taught more advanced techniques and patient care. More importantly, he met there a lovely young nursing aide, who, on a dare, winked at the new orthotist and began a lifelong romance. Lester and Lorene Estelle Wilkerson were married on March 28, 1941, and were together nearly 70 years. During World War II, he served in the Army at the military hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, once being transported out to the top secret base at Los Alamos to fit a back brace on Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, the lead scientist on the Manhattan Project. Lester said that the scientist did not have time to even look up from his long, complicated equations while being fitted for a back brace, as he was racing against time to develop the atomic bomb. In 1946, he began Sabolich Prosthetics in Oklahoma City with the help of his wife, Lorene. Their success was later built upon by their son, John; and grandsons, Scott and Trey; grandson-in-law, Tim; and great-grandson, Blake; in their own prosthetic work. He was a founding member of the American Board of Certification in Prosthetics and Orthotics and sought to raise the standards of his profession in many ways. Above all, the patient came first for Lester and his team. That, says his son, was the secret of his success and resulted in Oklahoma City becoming the destination for difficult prosthetic cases from around the world. He retired from Sabolich Prosthetics in 1994 to work on other business interests. He was preceded in death by his sisters: Catto Braun and Billie Rose Chandler, and Mary Braun. He is survived by his wife, Lorene; and sister, Gloria Puckett and husband, Jack, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister, Doris Colson and brother-in law, Tommy Braun. He is also survived by 2 children: Carole Sabolich Tiemann and husband, Carl; and John Alan Sabolich and wife, Lee; 5 grandchildren: Crystal Carlton and husband, Tim; Charles (Trey) Martin; Scott Sabolich and wife, Devin; Brian Sabolich and wife, Maike; and Laura Sabolich; as well as 8 great-grandchildren - all of the Oklahoma City area. Special thanks to care givers, Carmella Harwell, Tammy Newport, Johnna Stevens, Debbie Wagner, Compassionate Care Hospice, and dear family friend, Retha Jantz. Services will be held Monday, December 13, at 2 p.m., at Vondel Smith Mortuary North. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Limbs for Life Foundation, 5929 N. May, Suite 511, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, started by their family to provide prosthetic services to those in need, or the Oklahoma Alzheimer's Association, 6465 South Yale, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74136.