Alan M. Lake, MD passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 after a long illness. He was a pediatrician with the Maryland Pediatric Group for over 30 years until his retirement in 2016. He served on several national and state-level medical and nutritional committees, but was most remembered as a caring individual who was quick to share knowledge, humor and compassion via his many stories, advice, and Donald Duck impressions. He was adored by family, friends and colleagues, as well as patients and their families.
After graduating from Dartmouth College (1969), he completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati (1973), followed by a pediatric residency at the University of Colorado (1973-1975) and a chief residency at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY (1975-1976). A fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Howard’s Massachusetts General Hospital (1976-1979) completed his formal medical education.
He moved to the Baltimore area in 1979 with his wife and young son and daughter to initiate the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center. In 1983, he entered private practice in general pediatrics and gastroenterology at the Maryland Pediatric Group while continuing to serve at the Hopkins clinic for another 24 years. Starting in 1992, he was named as a Top Doctor in the United States as well as recognized in Baltimore Magazine’s peer-selected Top Docs/Pediatrics for many years.
Alan developed a love of teaching from his mother and used those skills throughout his career to teach other medical personnel through his journal articles, lectures at medical conferences, and day-to-day interactions with fellow pediatricians and staff. He served as a mentor to many who crossed his path.
He was an active participant with the National American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) teaching numerous PREP courses. He served 4 years on the National AAP Nutrition Committee during which he represented the AAP at Bright Futures/Nutrition, the National School Lunch Program, the Healthy Start Program, Kaiser Foundation Project Lean, the Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity, the FDA/AAP Panel on Nutritional Therapies for Disease, and the Infant Formula Revision Panel. He wrote seven AAP Policy Statements and served as co-editor of the Nutrition Handbook.
He later (after 1999) served on the Maryland Chapter’s Committee on Continuing Medical Education. In 2004, he joined the Maryland Chapter’s Task Force on Prevention of Childhood Obesity and held the position as co-chair for a time with “goals to make changes to the infrastructure that supports physical activity and healthy eating for children and families.” The MD Chapter AAP awarded him the Special Achievement Award at the 2006 Awards Dinner – for a “physician who over an entire career has made outstanding contributions through research, service delivery, or educational endeavors to child health.”
He was the chair of the Governor’s Taskforce on Child Obesity and had worked with Maryland’s Project HEAL, the Healthy School’s Coalition, and as a medical advisor to Maryland WIC. He chaired the MD State School Health Council from 2014-2017. His services also continued on the MD State Dept of Education Health and Physical Activity Council as the co-chair of the Baltimore County School Health Council.
From the late 1990’s until about 2020 he also participated with the Nutrition Advisory Board for Nestle-Gerber Nutrition Institute working to improve the nutritional value of baby food and formula.
As he approached retirement, he took on new volunteer responsibilities. He became a member of the Thomas Wilson Foundation Board, a non-profit charitable organization whose task it is to allocate funds to support programs related to improving the health and welfare of the children of Baltimore City.
Volunteering at Baltimore County’s Cromwell Valley Park (CVP) as an executive board member led to his acceptance of a Shining Star Award in 2010 from the Baltimore County Department of Recs and Parks. His service to improve and preserve some of the most important elements of CVP through his efforts to win grants, entice partnerships with outside organizations, driving decision-making, etc. contributed to the transformation of the Merrick House to the Willow Grove Nature Center, efforts to stabilize the historic kilns, and development of the Nature Trail for All.
In retirement he continued to share knowledge as a volunteer docent at the Baltimore Zoo and later at the National Aquarium. Those volunteer experiences gave him an opportunity to continue to interact with children, including many of his patients whom he missed.
Receiving various awards and recognition throughout the years meant little to Alan compared to the rewards of all the love he received from his young patients and their families, as well as the respect earned from his colleagues and friends. His calm and reassuring manner, along with a little humor, made trips to the pediatric office more fun and engaging. Many patients recall his Donald Duck impersonation as a welcome comfort and laugh. His care extended to the parents as well. Parents appreciated his patience and partnership in raising their children as well as his many stories and creative prescriptions for a glass of wine or a weekend away to ease their stress. He conveyed a real sense of kindness and caring and was remembered as being the best of the best and a bit of a legend, the kind of pediatrician everyone wants for their kids (and themselves as parents).
Especially with friends and family, he was famously known for his storytelling. The stories may have gotten bigger and bigger with each tale, but he could enchant listeners with story after story of his many adventures and chance encounters. Friends agree that he took his time to really get to know you. He seemed to remember so much about so many and gave sound advice not only to his patients, but to his many friends as well.
In addition to being an amazing doctor, he was a devoted husband and father. Regardless of how many hours he put in at the office, he would always make the effort to be there for the great moments in his home life too, from attending his children’s sporting events to teaching them his many Eagle Scout skills and his love for the Adirondacks, as well as small thoughtful gestures like cleaning their cars while they were sleeping in on a weekend home from college or sweeping their front walk as they were chasing after their own children. His love for the Adirondacks was born from his own parents taking him there through his childhood. He spent many summer vacations teaching his children to sail, canoe, ski, hike, and all things outdoors. Something they now hope to pass along to his grandchildren.
Alan and his wife of 50 years, Sue, both enjoyed travel. They shared many trips with the family beyond upstate New York, creating treasured memories in places like the Southwest, Hawaii, Curacao and Cancun as well as trips to Yellowstone and Disney World when grandchildren joined the family. He and his wife also enjoyed many trips as just the two of them before his final years of illness. His wife recounts several cruises in Europe and Russia, sometimes joined by friends, but perhaps the most fondly remembered trips were to Italy and Scotland. Just like his father before him, Alan was always proud of his Scottish heritage. He had hoped to learn how to play the bagpipes, but somehow he never had the time. The family is all hoping one of his grandchildren will take this on in his memory.
He was fiercely proud of his family and would spoil his grandchildren whenever he got the chance. He passes on his love for travel, generosity, and adding a little humor to every day. He was beloved and admired by many and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife, Sue A. Lake; son, Jeremy R. Lake and his wife Robin S., and daughter, Kristin E. Masten and her husband John E.; grandchildren, Mason and Cooper Lake, and Fletcher Masten.
Friends may call at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Rd. (beltway exit 26), on Friday, June 23rd, from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 PM, at which time a Memorial Service will be held. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Johns Hopkins Children Center at www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns-hopkins-childrens-center/ways-to-give/
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