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Michael Andrew Kjelsberg, M.D. passed away August 21, 2022 of colon cancer at 57.  Mike was a cancer survivor from his teenage years when he lost a leg to bone cancer and twice had sections of his lungs removed. That experience left him with a personal philosophy that “life is sweet.”  He had been a cross-country runner and skier in high school, and continued after his recovery playing tennis as well as racing in a wheelchair.  In college, Mike fenced and played French horn, while playing wheelchair basketball on a local team.  He was the 1987 Hirata Cup champion at Princeton Tower Club.  He enjoyed wheelchair basketball and golf through the rest of his life. 

Mike also had a stellar academic career, winning the thesis prize in Chemistry at Princeton University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude; graduating from Johns Hopkins Medical School; doing a research year before his internship and residency at Duke University; and doing his cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was the author of numerous scholarly articles. 

Mike grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his late parents, Marcus and Marjorie Kjelsberg, and his sister, Ann Kjelsberg.  Mike remained very proud of his home state and visited frequently, particularly to enjoy the rugged north shore of Lake Superior and to canoe in the remote and beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area, to which he introduced many grateful friends and family.

Mike met his wife, Crystal Mullen Kjelsberg, M.D., at Johns Hopkins.  They were married in 1993 and were loving partners to each other for twenty-nine years. They have four children of whom Mike was very proud: Hannah, Emory, Clara and Henry Kjelsberg.  Mike is also survived by his in-laws who loved him deeply like a son and brother, Gladys and Michael Datch and Terry and Maria Mullen and Richard Scott Mullen. Mike was devoted to his family and took spectacular photos of them which he meticulously cataloged in albums.  He treasured family time and the many trips to Cape Cod, Maine, and National Parks out West he took with them.

Mike specialized in interventional cardiology.  After several years at the Mayo Clinic, Mike joined Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates in 2002 and served until his illness as the Chief of Cardiology at Mount Auburn Hospital.  Mike loved his practice and his patients and continued seeing them until shortly before his death.  He was an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and was a tremendous teacher.  Benefactors of Mount Auburn Hospital have endowed the Michael A. Kjelsberg Memorial Award for Clinical and Teaching Excellence in Cardiovascular Disease and The Annual Michael A. Kjelsberg Memorial Lecture in Cardiovascular Disease in Mike’s honor.

In all his interactions Mike was a steady, upbeat, humorous and observant friend and colleague.  He was the first to offer to travel to visit family and friends and the last to leave.  An accomplished athlete, musician, audiophile and photographer, he was better at almost everything than almost everyone but his humility and delight in the accomplishments of others made that easy to accept. He had the knack of making and keeping good friends from the many aspects of his life, all of whom feel a great loss today. 

There will be a private family graveside funeral service at Westview Cemetery in Lexington.  A Celebration of Life is being planned.  As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to support Mount Auburn Hospital, Development Office, 330 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 01609.

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