Leroy M.D.

Ecklund, Leroy "Lee" MD

Madison: Leroy "Lee" Ecklund, MD passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 23, 2017. Lee was born on June 14, 1930 and is survived by his partner of 44 years, Gary Gill and his beloved children Marilyn Windschiegl (Peter), Kristin Ecklund (Ken), Ann Ecklund-Russell (Kyle), Lars Ecklund, and a "very close friend who was like a daughter" Aimee Spencer (Michael), who were neighbors in West Palm Beach where Lee and Gary wintered. Lee has four grandchildren: Kristin Windschiegl and Xander, Sarah and Connor Russell. He was preceded in death by his wife Alma and his parents Leslie and Elsie Ecklund.

Lee attended grade school in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach and graduated 9th in his class from Palm Beach High School. On full scholarship, Lee graduated 3rd in his class from the University of Chicago and went on to receive his medical degree from Northwestern Medical School in Chicago. He completed his internship at Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital and his Psychiatric residency at The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He was a Captain in the USAF and served as a staff psychiatrist at the USAF Hospital in Elmendorf, AK.

Lee was a long time 55 plus year Madison resident and had a great affection for this city. He provided outstanding leadership and clinical services at the Mendota Mental Health Institute for several decades serving in the capacity of Service Chief, Clinical Director Superintendent, Director, and Medical Director. During his revered tenure, several innovative programs were nationally and internationally recognized and awarded. Mendota's PACT program received a Gold Award from the American Psychiatric Association - the highest award granted for mental health programs in the United States.
The Child and Adolescent Programs at Mendota were a model for behavioral research throughout the nation. Mendota had one of the first inpatient/outpatient community centered programs in the country for treating autism and other neurologically based disorders. A unique program for treating juvenile justice adolescents with mental health problems as well as primary prevention programs including home and community treatment were developed at Mendota. All were very innovative and cutting edge for the time. Mendota's Training and Staff Development programs were nationally recognized for their clinical efficacy as well as self sustaining administration. Mendota was one of only four institutions in the country to have a Deaf Treatment program to help people who were deaf and also had mental health issues. Lee was not only instrumental as Director of MMHI in helping to set up the program, but he was actively involved in that program as the physician for the Deaf Treatment Unit.

Upon his retirement from Mendota, Lee continued part time work with a focus on patient care. He worked at the Adams County Mental Health Center and the Villa Pines Nursing Home in that area. Later he served as Medical Director for the Tellurian Uncan Street Team here in Madison. The clinical work with a variety of patients brought him a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure. He retired from clinical work at age 75.

Lee's family life centered around his children and grandchildren as well as Gary's children, Eric Gill(Andrea), Karen Munoz (Alejandro) and Shannon Mobley (Bill) and their children. Lee and Gary's combined grandchildren totaled an even dozen. Lee enjoyed cooking and was considered to be an outstanding gourmet chef by all of those who had the pleasure of enjoying one of his meals. He loved to gather family around the dining room table and feed them. His spectacular Christmas Eve Smorgasbord was a highly anticipated pleasure for all, and his interest and enjoyment of art, music, and the theater as well as photography and travel exemplified his love of life, friends, and family. He had the mind of an intellectual, the heart of a chef, and the soul of an artist. What a sweet beautiful man he was. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, co-workers and clients.

Family will greet friends from 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the Cress Center, 6021 University Avenue, Madison. A memorial service will follow at 6:00 pm. Please join us and share your memories of Lee. The family wishes to thank Agrace Hospice and BrightStar for assisting us in the last days of Lee's life. If you wish to honor Lee, please make a contribution in his name to Nami Wisconsin. Please share a memory at www.CressFuneralService.com.


Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 238-8406