My friend Melvyn Schreiber, who died last fall at 93, was known as an excellent doctor and teacher. He was also a perceptive reader.
He read constantly, and his medical students were sometimes surprised to find that he knew writers young enough to be his grandchildren.
He wrote:
Reading is not a diversion for me. When I am not at the hospital working, it’s what I do. And that for a lifetime. I do not think I live vicariously in the characters I read about, but my understanding of life and people is certainly informed.
Melvyn was only mildly interested in literary criticism, but he was serious about understanding life and people.
Melvyn left some of himself behind for friends. He left four collections of essays. Some of us have letters.
He would be pleased to know that his friends are sharing notes and quotes.
• Notes: For more, see “Dr. Melvyn Schreiber,” Oct. 8, 2023.
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