John Edward Liljestrand Jr.

Dr. John Edward Liljestrand Jr., was born on July 6th, 1966 in Wichita, Kansas. He passed away on February 16, 2020, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Fairfax, VA. He died at the age of 53 after a year-long battle with a rare form of lung cancer. John grew up in Oklahoma City. During his youth, he became a skilled pianist, artist, science/math student, and band member. To make extra money, John mowed yards and painted houses during high school. After graduating as valedictorian, he received a presidential scholarship and attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. John earned a BA in chemistry with minors in math, biology, and physics. Newly married to his wife Vera, John attended the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City and completed his residency in Family Practice at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1995, John joined Kaseman Family Practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico, working alongside Dr. Beddo, whom he admired greatly. In 2006, John was chosen by his fellow physicians as Top Doc in his field by Albuquerque, The Magazine. Being a family practice doctor was not just a job, it was an inspired calling. He absolutely loved getting to know his patients and considered many to be his friends. In addition to family practice, John was a certified Palliative and Hospice doctor, assisting so many through the most difficult of times. He was a man of varied interests and talents. With some help, he built the family’s adobe home in Tijeras, New Mexico. He was a Cub Scout leader for many years and enjoyed hiking and backpacking. John was on the Board of Directors for Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico from 2004-2018, acting as president for most of those years and as house manager for ballet performances at the KiMo Theatre. In 2018, John relocated to Fairfax, Virginia and joined Inova Medical Group, where he continued to see patients until very recently. John maintained a ceaseless search for knowledge and enjoyed debate with anyone who was willing. He was especially fascinated with the workings of the human mind, reading countless books on the subject over his lifetime. John is survived by his parents, John and Suzie Liljestrand, his former wife, Vera Liljestrand, his four dearly loved children, Katherine (husband Ricardo), Isaiah, Isabel, and Nicholas, his closest friend, Daniella Salazar, and her children whom he also loved deeply, Anthony, Marissa, and Jayden. His family will be holding a memorial service in Albuquerque, NM in the upcoming months, date TBA. Memorial donations may be made to the Children of John Liljestrand Jr. Education Memorial Fund via check or bank transfer to Wells Fargo, to the organizations and causes close to Dr. Liljestrand’s heart, to include Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico (BRTNM), the Grand Canyon Conservancy, or the Ocean Conservancy, or to the scholarship established by his parents at Benedictine College, the Dr. John E. Liljestrand, Jr. Scholarship.