Lester M. Barron, 73; Pioneer in Convalescent Care Standards

Lester M. Barron, a founder of the California Assn. of Health Facilities, which represents 950 of the 1,200 nursing homes in the state, has died of cancer.

Barron, credited with establishing professional criteria and performance standards for convalescent homes statewide, was 73. He died Tuesday in Good Samaritan Hospital.

One of the first nursing home owners trained as a hospital administrator, Barron held degrees in public health and hospital administration from Harvard and the University of Chicago. He worked as an administrator in Massachusetts and Florida before coming to Los Angeles in 1952.

He built the Garden Crest Convalescent Hospital and Retirement Residence near Silver Lake, believed the first home to offer both extended and short-term care facilities in a tranquil setting. Rather than build a care home in a commercial environment, Barron built his units in a primarily residential neighborhood and surrounded them with landscaping to create a more home-like environment.

The success of Garden Crest, which catered to both area residents and film and design stars, enabled him to build a second facility, Casa la Villa in Pasadena.

When he found that many fellow nursing home owners were without experience in administration, he established the California Assn. of Health Facilities and then Health Care Educators, a nonprofit group that offers classes for administrators and nurses through UCLA.

Those working in convalescent care now are required to complete 40 hours of instruction every two years.

Barron is survived by his wife, Vera, three sons and four grandchildren.

A memorial service has been scheduled Sunday at 11 a.m. at Temple Knesseth Israel in Los Angeles.