Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Hundreds bid farewell at services for Ghanem

It won't be recorded in any medical journals, but Dr. Elias Ghanem, at least in the opinion of gaming giant Steve Wynn, discovered the cure for a broken heart.

Wynn, addressing an estimated 1,400 mourners at Ghanem's funeral Thursday at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Catholic Church, recalled attending a funeral with Ghanem three years ago, shortly after Ghanem was diagnosed with cancer. Wynn pointed out to Ghanem that the deceased woman's husband was heartbroken.

After a brief silence, Ghanem said: "Steve, don't let me break (my wife) Jody's heart." Wynn, owner of the Desert Inn, said he did not believe a man could do the many humanitarian deeds that Ghanem did in 30 years in Las Vegas and not break people's hearts when he died. Ghanem died Monday at age 62.

At the funeral three years ago, Ghanem also told Wynn: "Trust me, I'll show you we can beat this thing." Wynn figured Ghanem was talking about cancer, but he was wrong.

After Wynn saw Ghanem continue to live life to its fullest, meeting friends for lunches, going to social functions, continuing his career and spending quality time with his family, Wynn said, "I finally got it."

"I didn't think a physician had a prescription for a broken heart ... but Elias found a cure for a broken heart," Wynn said. "The lesson of Elias Ghanem is to enjoy each other."

Six others delivered eulogies for Ghanem, the longtime chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission and an innovator of the Preferred Provider Organization style of health care. He was called a courageous man who sought no pity for his suffering but rather made everyone feel good with his positive attitude.

Sun Editor and President Brian Greenspun read a letter to Ghanem's family from former President Bill Clinton during the 2 1/2-hour service before a standing-room-only crowd of leading figures from the world of politics, boxing, entertainment and the medical profession.

In the letter, Clinton, who had visited Ghanem in the hospital earlier this month, called Ghanem, "one of the finest people I have ever known."

Greenspun also told of how Ghanem loved to visit his beach home in Southern California to look out over the Pacific Ocean and find inner peace.

Dr. Tony Alamo Jr., a one-time Ghanem patient who became Ghanem's physician, called the boxing commission member of 14 years, "the greatest fighter Las Vegas ever had.

"It was a fight he could never have won, but he never gave up," Alamo said. "He was a champ."

Elias Ghanem II said he learned an important lesson from his one-time workaholic father who, after being diagnosed with cancer in 1998, spent a great deal of quality time with his family. "If I have learned anything during this ordeal, it is stay close to friends and family," Ghanem II said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., praised Ghanem for his humanitarian efforts, noting that, "during the Frontier (Hotel) strike (one of the longest labor disputes in U.S. history), Elias gave free medical care to the (out-of-work) employees and delivered 100 of their babies for free."

Elizabeth Ghanem told mourners she was stunned watching her uncle's courageous battle, including a conversation Ghanem had with another doctor where Ghanem said: "Today my doctors told me I wouldn't see next Christmas."

Developer Irwin Molasky sprinkled his address with humor, including giving away the "secret" Ghanem had for successful handicapping at Del Mar race track in Southern California. Molasky mused that he followed Ghanem and saw him consulting with a men's room attendant to get his winning picks.

Ghanem was known locally as the "physician to the stars." He treated such performers as Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby and Ann-Margret. Newton was among the mourners Thursday.

Others attending the funeral included Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., former Nevada governor and Sun Executive Editor Mike O'Callaghan, former Gov. Bob Miller and ex-Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones.

"I was one of Elias' first patients -- I was playing softball and got my leg torn up and he was the emergency room doctor at Sunrise Hospital," Miller said before the service. "I liked him immediately and made him my doctor."

Years after that incident, Miller was diagnosed by Ghanem as having prostate cancer. Ghanem had demanded more tests after specialists declared Miller was cancer-free. The results of those tests saved Miller's life.

"He had a sixth sense about those things -- it was a gift from God," Miller said.

Boxing promoter Don King said he talked by phone with Ghanem on Sunday, saying that Ghanem discussed plans for the world heavyweight title fight in November in Las Vegas, and was making sure King had all of the preparations in order.

"Such awesome courage, integrity and honor -- I told him he was Cyrano de Bergerac fighting death in the courtyard, and he laughed," King said.

Political adviser and friend Sig Rogich said Ghanem's death was "bittersweet -- bitter because we lost Elias but sweet because we are happy he is in a better place and out of his pain. Elias would want us to move on."

Dr. Donald Romeo, longtime Las Vegas ringside physician, said he was proud to have brought Ghanem into the boxing game as an assistant ringside doctor and praised Ghanem for long being one of the city's most caring physicians.

Bernie Yuman, manager of illusionists Siegfried and Roy, called Ghanem, "the champion of the little guy. He treated the poor patient who couldn't afford him the same as the wealthy patient who paid for his services."

Ghanem was an Israeli-born son of a Lebanese oil executive who later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He graduated from Duke University and came to Las Vegas as an emergency room doctor in 1971. Two years later, he opened a 24-hour clinic on Joe W. Brown Drive. The facility was the first of a string of medical centers.

His tens of thousands of patients included Las Vegas casino workers, Clark County Classroom Teachers Association employees and Culinary Union members.

Among his many honors, Ghanem is a recipient of the University of Nevada Distinguished Nevadan award.

He is survived by his wife, Jody; two sons, Elias II and Farid; daughter, Crystal; brother, Nasser; and six nieces, all of Las Vegas.

The family said donations can be made to the Elias F. Ghanem Medical Scholarship Fund, care of James Bradham, Nevada Commerce Bank, 3200 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102.

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