Melinda Seeger

Melinda was a loving and caring wife, mother, friend, and professional woman. She passed away peacefully after several strokes on July 7, 2016. Melinda was born on December 31, 1940 in Albert Lea, Minnesota and was the first of three children of Evelyn J. and Oscar E. Wayne. She grew up in Albert Lea and became a mainstay of her family after her father passed away when she was 13 years old. She attended school in Albert Lea until enrolling at the University of Minnesota, where she graduated with a BS in Occupational Therapy (OT) in 1963. Melinda met her future husband, Robert, on a blind date when she was an OT intern at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Portland, Oregon and he was a medical student at the University of Oregon Medical School. Their love for one another blossomed and grew, and she moved to Portland after graduation. They were married in Salem, Oregon in 1964 and dearly loved each other in a marriage of more than 52 years.

Melinda was a loving wife to Robert and mother to Jeff and was the rock-solid foundation of their family. Early in their marriage she assisted Robert in laboratory research and throughout provided immense understanding, encouragement, and support for his career in academic medicine at UCLA and then at Children's Hospital Los Angeles/University of Southern California. Melinda and Robert adopted their son, Jeffrey Wayne Seeger, in 1971 and provided a loving and nurturing family. She was devoted to Jeff, tirelessly guiding and helping him through school and into being a loving and caring adult. She created a warm and welcoming home for family and friends for 42 years in Westwood and designed and furnished their second home in Sunriver, Oregon, which they enjoyed for 25 years.

Melinda was a professional woman who was committed to providing the highest level of care for patients and service for real estate clients. She was an OT at the Rehabilitation Institute of Oregon in Portland while Robert was completing medical school. They then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1966, where she was an OT at the Veteran's Administration Hospital while he trained in pediatrics. They then migrated east to Bethesda, Maryland in 1968 where she was an OT at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) while her husband was at the National Institutes of Health. At NNMC, she provided outstanding care for Vietnam Veterans as well as a US Senator and a Supreme Court Justice. They lived in London, England in 1972 and 1973 where Robert trained in cancer immunology. After being mobile workers for eight years, they settled in Westwood, California in 1974 where they lived until Melinda's passing. Melinda joined the Rehabilitation Services Department at UCLA as Associate Chief and Chief of Occupational Therapy, specializing in hand and arthritis therapy for hundreds of patients including show business celebrities. She was an active volunteer and participant with the Arthritis Foundation, presenting and publishing her work and organizing annual meetings. She received the Foundation's national Addie Thomas Service Award in 1986 and was recognized in Marquis Who's Who of American Women for her outstanding work in the field of rehabilitation. Melinda changed careers in 1987 entering residential real estate sales in West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. She had many highly satisfied clients and generated multi-million dollar sales for several years, retiring in 2013.

Melinda created a wonderful home environment for family pets and loved them dearly. Her philanthropic support included Boxer Rescue LA and SPCA LA. Their dogs included Brandy, a white-haired fluff, Rocky, a loving boxer, and Buddy a second devoted boxer. The dogs, who were rescued, loved Melinda, always enjoying walks, runs, and rides with her. Rocky's love and loyalty was deep as shown when he protected her from being attacked by another dog on one of their walks by snarling and backing it down. She also loved cats including Tom, who came with their Strathmore home in 1974, Tom II, Missy, who was dear to Melinda, Patches, and Patches II. Melinda's rescue of Patches II (aka Patchy) in 2016 illustrates her love and compassion for animals. She went to a West Los Angeles animal shelter intending to rescue a dog for Robert because he longed for one after Buddy passed away in 2013. However, she first saw cats, and among them was a handsome all-white male cat that was said to be aggressive toward other cats and so was to be euthanized the next day. After some looking, Melinda decided she wanted to interact with the white cat one on one. He was friendly and immediately came to her for a cuddle. That was it! She told the staff that she would adopt him. She brought him home and named him Patches even though he was all white! Melinda's rescue of Patches was meant to be as he immediately became the most loving cat ever, snuggling up to her to show his love for her. He has survived Melinda and provides a loving legacy and gift from her to Robert and Jeff.

While having a full and wonderful life, Melinda bravely and without complaint dealt with an autoimmune disease called anti-phospholipid syndrome. She had and inspired an outstanding cadre of physicians and nurses. Her passing away due to strokes related to the disease emphasizes the need for biomedical research to attain a better understanding and treatment for other patients. To honor Melinda and to help achieve this goal, an annual lectureship in immunology and autoimmune diseases will be established at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, please direct donations to the Melinda W. Seeger Immunology Lectureship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., #29, LA, CA 90027; online at http://www.chla.org/ways-help, click "Donate Today", then click "Other – please specify below", specify the amount and finally insert Melinda W. Seeger Immunology Lectureship in the "Other" box; email and telephone: tjohann@chla.usc.edu 323-361-5675 or foundation@chla.usc.edu 323-361-2308. Melinda will continue to love and help others.