Lawrence McCormick Detmer

Lawrence McCormick “Mac” Detmer, 91, passed away on Saturday December 11, 2021 at Three Crowns Park in Evanston, Illinois.  He was born Sunday August 10, 1930 in Winfield, Kansas, the son of Lawrence Oscar Detmer and Esther Buelah Detmer, nee McCormick.

Mac Detmer graduated from high school in Great Bend, Kansas and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in business administration from Kansas University and later a master’s degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota.   He worked in hospital administration at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland where he met his wife, Sarah Detmer (née Stuard), and became a father to two children, Stuard and Allison.   This first marriage later ended in divorce.  The young family moved to the Chicago area in 1965 where Mac was to make his home for the rest of his life.  He worked for the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association where he was instrumental in promoting university programs for physicians' assistants.

Mac was an avid patron of the arts who often could be seen in the company of family and friends at The Art Institute, Ravinia Festival, Lyric Opera, Steppenwolf Theater, Writers Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and performances at Northwestern University near his home in Evanston, Illinois.    Inspired by a trip to visit his niece in Thailand, Mac became a passionate international traveler who explored Europe and Asia widely.   

In 2014 he married his beloved partner of 17 years, Dr. Robert Boyle, who passed away in 2019.  Mac was a devoted husband and father, a doting grandfather, a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews and a friend to many.  He is survived by his first wife, Sarah Detmer, his children, Allison Carpenter (née Detmer) and Stuard Detmer and his grandchildren, Covey and Evelyn Carpenter and Angela and Austin Detmer and his brother, Dr. Don Detmer.

“He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”  William Shakespeare, Hamlet

A memorial service for Mac Detmer will be held on Saturday, January 8 at 11:00am at the main chapel of Saint Matthews Episcopal Church at 2120 Lincoln Street in Evanston, Illinois.   The chapel is large enough for adequate social distancing.  Masks are required during the service and masks will be made available for visitors who do not have one. 

For those who cannot participate in person, the service will be transmitted via streaming at 11:00 am via the following URL: https://youtu.be/aCPBkdPUmhY

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Feeding America https://www.feedingamerica.org/ 

or an arts organization of your choice.

Interment private. Arrangements entrusted to Evanston Funeral & Cremation, Roland F. Weis director. Info 847 866-8843, condolence and guestbook at evanstonfuneral.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lawrence McCormick Detmer, please visit our floral store.