LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: NEWS: Ghanem succumbs after long battle with cancerTuesday, August 28, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-JournalGhanem succumbs after long battle with cancer
By JANE ANN MORRISON
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Dr. Elias Ghanem, a Lebanese immigrant who moved effortlessly among the diverse worlds of medicine, politics and boxing, died at his Las Vegas home Monday after a tenacious battle with cancer first diagnosed in 1998. He was 62.
In his waning days, the Nevada Athletic Commission chairman was visited by myriad friends from all three worlds, including former President Bill Clinton, who visited him Aug. 21.
Known for his skills as a physician as well as his charm and generosity, at one point in his medical career he was dubbed "the physician to the stars." Among his patients: Elvis Presley, Liberace, Michael Jackson and Clinton's mother, Virginia Kelley.
Ghanem was a self-made man who came to the United States in 1963 with $90 in his pocket and a scholarship to a North Carolina college. He was so poor that as a medical student at Duke University, he lived out of his car, unable to afford both a home and the vehicle. He opted for a car -- so he could go on dates.
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, "Elias Ghanem stood for what this country is all about. No matter what your wealth, your skin tone or your religion, in America, you can make it and Elias Ghanem made it."
Ghanem's diagnostic abilities were "a God-given gift," said former Gov. Bob Miller, who credits the early detection of his prostate cancer to Ghanem. "When his heart stopped, so did a part of mine. And I don't think I'm alone. Anyone who came in contact with him has to be grieving like I am today."
During his 30 years in Las Vegas, Ghanem became an active political fund-raiser for both Democrats and Republicans, hosting more than 60 political events. Twice he entertained President Clinton at his Las Vegas homes, once in 1997 and again in 1999.
Both times, Clinton talked about how they shared humble beginnings. Monday morning, after learning of Ghanem's 2 a.m. death, Clinton called Ghanem's wife, Jody to express his condolences.
Ghanem had served on the athletic commission since 1987 and had been chairman intermittently for seven years. During his 14-year tenure on the commission, the state hosted an unprecedented run of major championships fights, televised out of Las Vegas, with record-breaking gross paid gates. He was instrumental in disciplining boxer Mike Tyson after the boxer bit Evander Holyfield's ear during a 1997 fight at the MGM Grand. Tyson was fined $3 million and his license was revoked for 15 months.
Yet Tyson was among those calling Ghanem in his final days.
Ghanem's friend Mike Sloan, vice president of Mandalay Resort Group, said, "A lot of the improvements in boxing and the stature with which the Nevada Athletic Commission is held is attributable to Elias and his stewardship."
Union leader John Wilhelm, another of Ghanem's friends, said that during the six-year strike at the Frontier, Ghanem treated every worker free of charge and delivered more than 100 babies for the striking workers.
Longtime friend Sig Rogich described how during Clinton's last visit to see Ghanem, in the intensive care unit at MountainView Hospital, a crying nurse told Clinton how she had worked at one of Ghanem's clinics 15 years ago and had higher aspirations. "Elias said if she was serious about becoming a nurse, he'd take care of it," Rogich said.
"He was a profile in courage," said Rogich, a political consultant and image maker. "They gave him a few months to live and that was nearly four years ago."
Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said: "When I hear about this mythical pound-for-pound-best-fighter talk, by far the best fighter in the world has been Dr. Elias Ghanem. He put up the most heroic, courageous battle imaginable."
Born in Haifa, Israel, on March 12, 1939, Ghanem loved politics and American history and once said, "As a student, I just could not get over my love for this country and all that it provided. I was the perfect American cheerleader."
His Las Vegas career began in 1971, when he came to the valley as an emergency room physician at Sunrise Hospital. In 1976, he began a family practice, and in 1977 he opened his first clinic behind the Las Vegas Hilton, where he became the hotel doctor. Elvis became one of his patients.
Ghanem received extensive press coverage over his medical treatment of Elvis, his unlucky business investments and an FBI investigation into his clinics' billing practices. He was never charged with a crime.
Although he didn't carry through, Ghanem threatened to sue ABC News' "20/20" for reporting that he was one of the doctors who provided drugs that contributed to Elvis' death.
Ghanem was a partner in the charter airline company Jet Avia Inc., which in 1977 suffered two plane crashes on the same day. Frank Sinatra's mother was killed in one of the crashes. Jet Avia went into bankruptcy and Ghanem lost $1.1 million.
His medical clinics, the Las Vegas Medical Centers, catered to Culinary union workers, and his friends credit him with changing how medical care is provided in Las Vegas by launching innovative, comprehensive cost-containment programs.
The National Jewish Hospital once honored Ghanem as its man of the year, and he was named a University of Nevada Distinguished Nevadan this year.
Ghanem is survived by his wife, Jody, and three children: daughter Crystal Ann, and sons Elias II and Farid, all of Las Vegas; and his brother, Nasser Ghanem.
A rosary and viewing will be held Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Catholic Church, 7260 W. Sahara Ave. Services will be held at the same church Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and the burial will follow at Palm Green Valley Cemetery, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Dr. Elias F. Ghanem Medical Scholarship fund. Contributions may be sent to James Bradham, president of Nevada Commerce Bank, 3200 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89102.
Review-Journal staff writer Royce Feour contributed to this report.