In Memorium: Jack Lancelot “Lance” Lichtor, MD

Robert H Friesen MD and Myron Yaster MD

We have lost a long-time friend, colleague and contributor to our field, J. Lance Lichtor MD of Wayland, MA, and New Haven, CT, who died on April 30, 2025. Lance was a physician scientist who contributed many articles to our literature, a beloved teacher and mentor, and an effective administrator and program director. He completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, residencies in Anesthesiology at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and the University of Colorado, and a fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesia at the Children’s Hospital of Denver (now Children’s Hospital Colorado).

Lance was a long-time friend and colleague. I (RF) consider that we both jump-started our academic careers when he was a fellow in Pediatric Anesthesiology and I was a young faculty member at Children’s Hospital in Denver in the early 1980s. After validating the new noninvasive blood pressure monitor in neonates and infants,¹ we used that tool to study the hemodynamic effects of halothane and isoflurane in infants, clinically confirming the concept that the immature myocardium of infancy was associated with greater sensitivity to the cardiovascular depressant effects of halothane.^2,3

Following his fellowship, Lance moved to the University of Chicago where he enjoyed a remarkable career for two decades. He was part of a pioneering team in pediatric liver transplantation that developed techniques of lobar liver transplantation and use of living related donors.⁴ He conducted a large series of studies of the physiologic, behavioral, and psychomotor effects of a variety of anesthetic drugs (look him up on PubMed).

The last two decades of his career were spent at the University of Iowa; the University of Massachusetts, where he had an interest in online and technological tools for teaching and patient care in Anesthesiology; and Yale University, where he was Director of Pediatric Anesthesiology. He served on the editorial boards—and wrote some wise editorials--of both Anesthesiology and Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Lance was an avid baker, walker and runner—he even ran the Chicago marathon—NPR listener, White Sox fan, and exercise enthusiast. His Jewish faith was important to him, and he enjoyed connecting with his local congregation wherever he lived. Over the course of his life and career, he made a difference in many children and families’ lives, including his own. Lance is survived by his wife of 50 years, Christine O’Dell MD, five children, and two grandchildren.

Lance will forever be loved and remembered by all who knew him. We’ve lost a giant, and as the Jewish proverb goes: “may his memory be a blessing” and continue to inspire us all. Indeed.

Finally, Lance touched so many of us, so I am asking any of you who would like to recount a story that you’d like to share, please send to my email (myasterster@gmail.com) and I will publish as a special reader’s response at the end of this week.

¹Friesen RH, Lichtor JL. Indirect measurement of blood pressure in neonates and infants utilizing an automatic noninvasive oscillometric monitor. Anesth Analg 1981;60:742-745. PMID: 7197478

²Friesen RH, Lichtor JL. Cardiovascular depression during halothane anesthesia in infants: a study of three induction techniques. Anesth Analg 1982;61:42-45. PMID: 7198413

³Friesen RH, Lichtor JL. Cardiovascular effects of inhalation induction with isoflurane in infants. Anesth Analg 1983;62:411-414. PMID: 6829944

⁴Broelsch CE, Emond JC, Thistlethwaite JR, Whitington PF, Zucker AR, Baker AL, Aran PF, Rouch DA, Lichtor JL. Liver transplantation, including the concept of reduced-size liver transplants in children. Ann Surg 1988;208:410-420. PMID: 3052326