Dr. Melvyn H. Schreiber

On October 6, 2024, Dr. Melvyn H. Schreiber passed away at home.  He was 93 years old. 

Born and raised in Galveston, he attended Ball High School and the University of Texas at Austin, then earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in 1955.  After a one-year rotating internship, he completed a three-year residency in diagnostic radiology at UTMB.  This was followed by two years of military service as a radiologist and general medical officer at the United States Army Electronic Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. 

He returned to UTMB in 1961 and began a remarkable career that spanned more than 60 years.  He was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1967 and became chairman of the Department of Radiology in 1976, a position he held for 15 years.  His influence on the field extended far beyond UTMB.  Dr. Schreiber was president of the Association of University Radiologists, the Society of Chairmen of Academic Radiology Departments and the Texas Radiological Society. He was elected a trustee of the American Board of Radiology and served for 14 years. He was awarded the gold medal of the Association of University Radiologists in 1993 and the gold medal of the Texas Radiological Society in 1997. 

Dr. Schreiber was selected a John & Mary R. Markle Foundation Scholar in Academic Medicine.  Later in his career, he was named an Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus of UTMB and received the John P. McGovern Lifetime Achievement Award in Oslerian Medicine.  He was associated with the Institute for the Medical Humanities at UTMB for many years and was its director for one year. 

Teaching was one of the passions of his life, and he was presented with many awards for teaching by medical students.  During his six decades at UTMB, he taught thousands of students and residents, many of whom are practicing throughout Texas and beyond.  He continued to teach and work until his retirement in December, 2023. 

Outside of medicine, he enjoyed literature, music, gardening, painting, travel, building doll houses, umpiring softball games, and his association with The Grand 1894 Opera House.  He wrote book reviews for the Galveston Daily News and produced several bound volumes of personal essays.  Above all, he valued his relationships with family, students, residents, colleagues, and friends at work and elsewhere. 

Melvyn was preceded in death by his wife Tina, with whom he lived a charmed and happy life.   He is survived by children Wes Schreiber (wife Brenda), Diane Schreiber Graves (husband Ernie), Karen Gourley (husband Tom), and Lori Gourley, and grandchildren Natalie Schreiber, Jay Schreiber, Scott Graves, Daniel Graves, Will Samples and Claire Samples.  Donations in his honor can be made to The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston at thegrand.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Melvyn H. Schreiber, please visit our floral store.