Martin Henry Lees, M.D.

May 11, 1929 - January 3, 2026

Martin Henry Lees, M.D., passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 3, 2026, in Wilsonville, Oregon, at the age of 96.

Martin was born on May 11, 1929, in London, England, to Lilian Thomson (White) Lees and David William Lees. He was preparing to begin medical training when he was drafted into the Royal Navy, serving from 1947 to 1949 in the years following World War II. After completing his service, he went straight to medical school at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, earning his M.D. in 1955.

Martin's early medical career included work as a Resident Neonatologist at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, where he met Betty McMahon, who was working there as a registered nurse. Their love story began in those busy hospital halls, and they were married on September 5, 1959, in Brookline, Massachusetts, while Martin was a pediatric resident physician at Boston Children's Hospital.

In 1960, Martin was invited to a two-year fellowship with Dr. Alexander Nadas in the newly developing specialty of Pediatric Cardiology. Over time, he became one of the leaders in the field, contributing to the growth of pediatric cardiology through clinical innovation, mentorship, and scholarship, and authoring journal articles and textbook chapters that documented new discoveries and evolving best practices.

After a short return to England as a Consulting Pediatrician at Charing Cross Hospital in London, Martin accepted an offer from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in 1962, as an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology. Martin and Betty crossed the ocean again with their young daughters, Deborah (age 2) and Jacqueline (6 months), embracing the next chapter of work and family life.

In 1963, Martin was invited to interview at Oregon Health Sciences University to create a new Department of Pediatric Cardiology, the first in Oregon. He jumped at the opportunity, and the family moved from Montreal to Portland, Oregon, where Martin and his colleagues went on to save many thousands of babies and children with complex heart disease, building programs and practices that transformed care across the region. Their third daughter, Christina, was born in 1964.

In 1975, Martin and his family spent a sabbatical year from Oregon Health Sciences University with Project HOPE in Cairo, Egypt, where he and a team of clinicians trained local Egyptian medical teams in state-of-the-art best practices in healthcare. It became an amazing and unforgettable cultural adventure for the entire family, one that reflected Martin's belief in sharing knowledge and strengthening care wherever it was needed.

In 1982, Martin moved across the Willamette River to Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital in Portland, where he headed the Pediatric Cardiology program, served as an Attending Neonatologist in the growing NICU, and worked with Dr. Albert Starr to help create the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery program there.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Martin earned numerous awards and recognitions and was triple board-certified in Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and Pediatric Cardiology. He retired at age 70, yet he kept his medical license active until his passing, a testament to how deeply medicine, and the care of children and families, remained part of who he was.

Martin was the epitome of a gentleman. He enjoyed conversations and gatherings with friends and family, and he especially treasured the Parkdale home near Mount Hood that he built and enjoyed as his favorite place. He also loved traveling with Betty to see new places throughout the world and experience local culture. He stayed active with golf for many years, as well as daily walks on his treadmill until recently. Martin was an avid trivia fan and Jeopardy! expert, and he completed the New York Times crossword puzzle daily until recently. A lifelong learner with a sharp mind and remarkable memory for detail, he kept up with world and local news throughout his life. He was a music fan of many genres, including classical, jazz, Frank Sinatra, the Carpenters, and the Beach Boys.

Martin is survived by his wife, Betty Lees; daughters Deborah Davis, Jacqueline Chamberlain (Chuck), and Christina Guerins (Ken); eight grandchildren - Adam, Kate, Kelsey, Hannah, Connor, Cailin, Stephanie, and Cade; and eight great-grandchildren, including a baby boy expected in April 2026. He is also survived by his brother, Nigel Lees, in England, two nephews, and many extended family members. Martin was preceded in death by grandson DeAngelo in 2018.

As decades long St. Clare Parishioners, Betty requested that his service be held at their Portland home church.

Memorial Service

Saturday, February 7, 2026  |  11:00 a.m.

St. Clare Catholic Church

8535 SW 19th Ave., Portland, OR 97219

Reception to follow

In lieu of flowers, donations in Martin's name may be made to Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres),

an organization he loved to support for their international medical response work.