As a unique service for CMA members and their families, the CMA regularly publishes notices of deceased members.
Submit a Notice
Filler, Robert M.
July 2, 2020 MoreToronto; Washington University School of Medicine (US), 1956; pediatric surgery. Died July 2, 2020, aged 89. Survived by 4 children and 8 grandchildren. “Dr. Filler was a distinguished pediatric surgeon, first at Harvard Medical School and then in Toronto, where he served an unprecedented 18-year term as surgeon-in-chief at the Hospital for Sick Children (HSC). At the University of Toronto he became professor of surgery and pediatrics, and professor emeritus. Dr. Filler was an active member in more than a dozen prestigious Canadian and international medical societies, and has published more than 170 scientific articles and 80 book chapters. He held a 6-year governorship in the American College of Surgeons, and was elected president of the American Pediatric Surgical Association in 1991. He is known for his many contributions to the surgical treatment of infants and children, and is recognized as an expert in the separation of Siamese twins. In 1979 he performed an innovative operation at HSC on Herbie Quinones from New York. The publicity from this operation helped establish the Herbie Fund at Sick Kids to help children with serious health problems from around the world. In 1995 he initiated a telemedicine program at Sick Kids, the first in Ontario. He was a founding member of the Canadian Society of Telehealth in 1998, and served as its president from 2000 to 2002. In 2006, the Ministry of Health started the Ontario Telemedicine Network, a province-wide telemedicine network that encompasses more than 600 sites. Dr. Filler served as the first chair of its board until 2009. Earlier, he was awarded the Bronze Star by the US army for his treatment of Vietnamese children during his 1-year tour of duty as a military surgeon during the Vietnam War. In his career he received many awards, including the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Variety Club’s Sir James Carreras Award, and the Alumni Achievement Award from the Washington University School of Medicine. As well, Sick Kids has established an endowed chair in pediatric surgery in his name.”
Tchang, Pablo
July 1, 2020 MoreDollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.; University of Madrid (Spain), 1955; general surgery. Died July 1, 2020, aged 91. Survived by his wife Lucille, 6 children, 18 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. “Originally from China, Dr. Tchang started his medical studies at Aurora University in Shanghai. He finished his studies in Madrid and finalized his surgical training in Montréal. He worked for more than 30 years as a surgeon at the Lakeshore General Hospital, in Pointe-Claire, Que., and was also a medical director at the Montreal Chinese Hospital.”
Gasewicz, Wilson R.
June 30, 2020 MoreOnt.; University of Toronto, 1968; psychiatry. Died June 30, 2020, aged 77. Survived by his wife Julia, 5 children and 3 grandchildren. “Wilson believed strongly in serving his community. He was a thoughtful, kind, patient, gentle, compassionate and dedicated psychiatrist who gave back to the community as a volunteer and doctor for 46 years.”
Somani, Parviz N.
June 27, 2020 MoreEdmonton; University of Nairobi (Kenya), 1973; general practice. Died June 27, 2020, aged 71.
Lafarga, Angel M. (Gel)
June 25, 2020 MoreOshawa, Ont.; University of Zaragoza (Spain), 1952; general pathology. Died June 25, 2020, aged 91. Survived by his wife Ruth, 3 children and 4 grandchildren. “After graduating in pathology from the Winnipeg General Hospital he worked at Hammersmith Hospital in London, England, the Jewish General in Montréal and Trenton Memorial Hospital in Ontario before moving to Oshawa. Gel was a pathologist at the Oshawa General Hospital for 30 years, retiring in 1999.”
Papadopoulos, Dennis F.
June 25, 2020 MoreBrooks, Alta.; University of Athens (Greece), 1953; internal medicine. Died June 25, 2020, aged 94. Survived by his wife, Iris. “After medical school Dennis served in the Greek Army as a second lieutenant in the medical corps for 3 years. He immigrated to Canada in 1956 and completed a 2-year internship at the Reddy Memorial Hospital in Montréal before moving to the US, where he completed 5 years of residency in internal medicine at 4 university-affiliated hospitals. Dennis returned to Canada in 1964 and practised internal medicine in Brooks until his retirement.”
Laberge, Louis-Philippe
June 24, 2020 MoreLongueuil, Que.; University of Ottawa, 1959; anesthesiology. Died June 24, 2020, aged 92. Survived by his wife, Marthe Olivier, 2 sons and 3 grandchildren.
Whitfield, Michael F.
June 23, 2020 MoreVancouver; University of Edinburgh (Scotland), 1970; pediatrics. Died June 23, 2020, aged 73. Survived by his wife Morag, 2 children and 6 grandchildren. “Mike, who specialized in the care of premature babies, immigrated to Canada in 1981. In 1983 he established the Neonatal Follow-Up Program at the BC Children’s Hospital, and in 2002 he was recognized for outstanding services to the children of British Columbia, receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.”
Vanier, Claude
June 23, 2020 MoreQue.; Université de Montréal, 1980; psychiatry; professor, Université de Montréal; life member, Canadian Psychiatric Association; honorary member, Canadian Medical Association; distinguished fellow, American Psychiatric Association. Died June 23, 2020, aged 66. Survived by his spouse, Suzie Lamontagne, and 2 children. “During his career, Claude served as secretary of the Association of Quebec Psychiatrists (AMPQ), then of the Federation of Medical Specialists of Québec (FMSQ) and, finally, as president of the Assembly of Chiefs in Psychiatry of the Island of Montreal. He was also an examiner for the Collège des médecins du Québec and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada . . . and treated many military personnel at the Operational Stress Disorder Clinic of Canada. He had also served as president of the American Psychiatric Association of Eastern Canada.”
Pannetier, Évelyne
June 23, 2020 MoreSherbrooke, Que.; Université Claude-Bernard (France), 1976; neurology. Died June 23, 2020, aged 69. Survived by 3 daughters and their father, Wadih-Pierre Saad.
Walley, Robert L.
June 22, 2020 MoreSt. John’s; University of London (England), 1964; obstetrics and gynecology; professor emeritus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Died June 22, 2020, aged 81. Survived by his wife Susan, 7 children and 14 grandchildren. “He leaves a great legacy of bringing thousands of children into the world, as well as creating MaterCare International, which provides safe motherhood for women in developing countries.”
Kelly, Michael J.
June 20, 2020 MoreOttawa; Oxford University (England), 1955; obstetrics and gynecology. Died June 20, 2020, aged 89. Survived by 3 children and 4 grandchildren. “He emigrated to Canada in 1956, first serving as an intern in St. John’s and then as a resident in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montréal. He joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1960 as a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, with postings in Iserlohn, West Germany, and Whitehorse. Following a period of teaching and research at the University of Alberta, the family settled in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., where Michael felt privileged to practise medicine for more than 50 years.”
Pratt, Michael
June 17, 2020 MoreLethbridge, Alta.; Victoria University of Manchester (England), 1961; general practice. Died June 17, 2020, aged 82. Survived by his wife, Dr. Edna Pratt, 3 children and 2 grandchildren. “After working in the UK for 5 years, they immigrated to Rivers, Man., in 1967. They moved to Lethbridge in 1969, where Michael worked at the Campbell Clinic as a GP anesthetist and GP before moving to the Bigelow Fowler Clinic.”
Odale, Brian L.
June 16, 2020 MoreAthabasca, Alta.; University of London (England), 1964; general practice. Died June 16, 2020, aged 81. Survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 3 stepchildren and 6 step-grandchildren. “Brian was born and raised in Wales, and he went to medical school in London, England, before coming to Canada to practise as a general practitioner. He arrived in Athabasca with his small family in 1972, and continued to practise there until he retired in 2014.”
Backus, Winston O.
June 15, 2020 MoreSpruce Grove, Alta.; University of London (England), 1946; general practice. Died June 15, 2020, aged 99. Survived by his wife Myrtle, 4 children, 4 stepchildren, 20 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. “After medical school and spending 5 years in the British army, he moved to Ponoka, Alta., where he joined his brother in medical practice. He then moved with his family to Grande Prairie, Alta., in 1953 and served the community in many ways, as both a doctor and member of the Legislative Assembly.”
Carter, Allister W.
June 14, 2020 MoreMiramichi, NB; Dalhousie University, 1971; family medicine; life member, New Brunswick Medical Society. Died June 14, 2020, aged 75. Survived by his wife Heather, 4 children and a grandson.
Smith, Stuart L.
June 10, 2020 MoreEtobicoke, Ont.; McGill University, 1962; psychiatry. Died of Lewy body dementia June 10, 2020, aged 82. Survived by his wife Paddy, 2 children and 5 grandchildren. “Stuart had a life-long interest in government and politics, and in 1965 sought the Liberal nomination for the Montréal federal riding of Mount Royal. He eventually withdrew his nomination in favour of a then unknown Pierre Trudeau. In 1967, Stuart left Montréal for Hamilton, where he became a professor of psychiatry at the new McMaster University medical school and helped to design its innovative, problem-based curriculum. Always attracted to public policy and protection of the environment, Stuart ran as a Liberal in the 1975 Ontario provincial election for the riding of Hamilton West. He soon became leader of the Official Opposition, serving alongside Premier William Davis and NDP leader Stephen Lewis. Stuart led the Ontario Liberal Party through 2 elections (1978 and 1981) before retiring from politics. From 1982 to 1987, he served as the chair of the Science Council of Canada and, from 1995 to 2002, as chair of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. Stuart’s contribution in the field of education included serving as chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Guelph-Humber. He also headed the Smith Commission — an inquiry into the state of post-secondary education across the country — in 1991.”
Ledgerwood, Ernest F. (Ernie)
June 10, 2020 MoreSquamish, BC; University of British Columbia, 1960; general practice. Died June 10, 2020, aged 83. Survived by his wife Lynn, 3 children and 3 grandchildren. “After graduation from medical school, Ernie went into general practice on Victoria Drive in Vancouver. He continued to practise medicine in Vancouver until 1988, when he and Lynn relocated to Whistler, BC, where they ran a busy 1-man practice. In 1999 they moved themselves and the practice to Squamish, BC. Ernie retired from medicine in 2007, but remained an active volunteer in the community.”
Walter, Edward P. (Steady Eddy)
June 10, 2020 MoreRenforth, NB; McGill University, 1950; internal medicine; assistant professor, Dalhousie University; life member, New Brunswick Medical Society; past president, New Brunswick Lung Association. Died June 10, 2020, aged 94. Survived by 5 children, 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. “He set up a full-time rural practice after medical school, but moved to post-graduate training in general internal medicine in 1955. Ed began his internal medicine practice in Saint John, NB, in 1958, with a primary interest in respiratory disease. He was on the attending staff at Saint John General Hospital and was a consultant at the Provincial and St. Joseph’s hospitals. During his career he served as chief of the Division of Respiratory Medicine, director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit, director of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic and charge physician on the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Team.”
Blizzard, Stephen V.
June 9, 2020 MoreOttawa; University of Western Ontario, 1963; aviation medicine. Died June 9, 2020, aged 91. Survived by his wife Merle, 3 children and 6 grandchildren. “Dr. Blizzard developed a unique career that combined his love of medicine and aviation. After obtaining his wings in the Canadian Armed Forces (meaning he successfully completed training on the Tutor jet), he undertook additional studies at the Royal College of Physicians of London, becoming a specialist in aviation medicine and serving as a senior medical officer with the Canadian Forces for over 16 years. One of his proudest moments was contributing to an international humanitarian mission. He was the first doctor on site for the first airlift of Vietnamese refugees from Uganda to Canada. Upon retiring from the military he worked for the Department of Civil Aviation Medicine, and went on to help develop standards for civil aviation medical examiners. He served terms as president of the International Civil Aviation Medical Association and the Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine, and was on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Advisory Group on Aerospace Research and Development. He was a member and selector of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (membership limited to 250 people worldwide). Dr. Blizzard received the prestigious Harry Jerome award in 2008, honouring his work in the field of health sciences. His work has also been recognized in the land of his birth with the Trinidad Icon Award.”
Lafond, Jean-Yves
June 9, 2020 MoreSudbury, Ont.; Université Laval, 1958; family medicine. Died June 9, 2020, aged 89. Survived by his wife, Reine-Aimée. “Dr. Lafond spent his entire career as a family physician in Sudbury. Upon retirement, he continued his contribution to the medical system by providing operating room assistance for several years.”
Reef, Isidore
June 8, 2020 MoreOttawa; University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), 1950; general practice. Died June 8, 2019, aged 92. Survived by 2 children, 4 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Stocks, Alison M.
June 8, 2020 MoreComox, BC; University of Colorado (US), 1998; family medicine. Died of brain cancer June 8, 2020, aged 57. Survived by her husband, Andy Brown, and 3 children. “[After medical school] she moved to Pocatello, Idaho, to finish her residency. She was doing all this while breastfeeding the first of her 3 children. The family would spend 8 years in Pocatello before ultimately deciding to move to Comox in 2006.”
Lievano, Fernando R.
June 1, 2020 MoreMoncton, NB; University of Bogota (Colombia), 1986; radiation oncology. Died June 1, 2020, aged 56.
Warren, Gerald W. B.
May 31, 2020 MoreCorner Brook, NL; Dalhousie University 1961; general practice; past president, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA). Died May 31, 2020, aged 84. Survived by his wife Nancy, 2 children and 5 grandchildren. “Following a year at the cottage hospital in Port aux Basques, NL, Gerald moved to his home town of Corner Brook, where he worked as a much loved general practitioner for 37 years. While successfully managing his busy practice, he also was on active staff in the Department of Family Practice at Western Memorial Hospital from 1962 to 1999. He also served as the hospital’s chief of staff from 1982 to 1988. Gerald was a very active member of the NLMA from 1961 to 2010, working on many advisory committees and serving as president in 1981-82. He was awarded honorary membership in the Canadian Medical Association in 2016 for his many years of service.”
Marr, Douglas F.
May 31, 2020 MoreSudbury, Ont.; University of Glasgow (Scotland), 1976; child and adolescent psychiatry. Died May 31, 2020, aged 67. Survived by his wife Sadie, 3 children and 9 grandchildren. “Douglas was a strong advocate for mental health during his 37 years of practice as a psychiatrist who worked with children, seniors and the First Nations community of M’Chigeeng. He was well known to many individuals through his work with adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”
Coucill, James D.
May 31, 2020 MoreRegina; University of Edinburgh (Scotland), 1969; family medicine. Died May 31, 2020, aged 75. Survived by his wife Erna, 3 children and 5 grandchildren. “In 1972 he began working as a family physician in Regina, and he practised medicine locally for 32 years. Following that, he worked for the Ministry of Health for 12 years as a medical consultant.”
Miller, Melvin J.
May 30, 2020 MoreSherwood Park, Alta.; University of Alberta, 1954; family medicine. Died May 30, 2020, aged 90. Survived by his wife Sophia (Ollie), 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. “Mel was nothing short of a miracle. In Grade 2 a life-threatening, year-long infection damaged his left lung for life, and the experience made him want to become a doctor. He trained as a physician and surgeon, and started work in McLennan, Alta., before opening up a family practice in Edmonton with his wife (and favourite nurse) in the early ’60s. Later, when there was a need for a new kind of comfort medicine, palliative care, he signed up to help pioneer it. That’s why the Palliative Care Hospice at the Edmonton General Hospital bears his name. He always thought it was weird to be alive and have something named after him. ‘It’s bad luck,’ he said, but it wasn’t. He lived another 24 years.”
Irwin, Michael E.
May 28, 2020 MoreWindsor, Ont.; University of Toronto, 1963; family medicine. Died May 28, 2020, aged 83. Survived by his wife, Mary Jane.
Dickson, Ruth A.
May 28, 2020 MoreCalgary; University of Calgary, 1977; psychiatry. Died May 28, 2020, aged 67.
Symington, David C.
May 27, 2020 MoreKingston, Ont.; University of Glasgow (Scotland), 1951; physical medicine and rehabilitation; professor emeritus, Queen’s University. Died May 27, 2020, aged 91. Survived by 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. “He was recruited by Queen’s in 1966 to establish the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He was the founding professor and head of that department, and founding director of the Regional Rehabilitation Centre for Eastern Ontario. During this time, he initiated and established teaching programs at Queen’s in occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Throughout his career he was involved in numerous committees locally, provincially, nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the World Health Organization’s Expert Advisory Panel on Rehabilitation, and of the National Research Council of Canada. He was invited as a visiting professor, lecturer and keynote speaker by numerous universities and hospitals across Canada and the United States, and numerous other countries. His publications include 1 book, 19 journal articles, and over 50 briefs and monographs. He was a leader in vocational rehabilitation services and strongly believed in and advocated for giving people with disabilities support in returning to independence and community living. ‘People with disabilities need a hand up, not a handout,’ was his common refrain.”
Andrews, Debra (Debbi)
May 27, 2020 MoreEdmonton; Harvard University (US), 1979; pediatrics. Died May 27, 2020, aged 66. Survived by her husband, David Laughton, 3 children and 2 grandchildren. “Debbi came to Edmonton with her Canadian husband in 1987, and was one of the first developmental pediatricians in Canada and the first in Northern Alberta. She devoted her career to alleviating the shortages that exist in medical resources available to support children with developmental and emotional-behavioural differences, and their families. She provided leadership for the creation of innovative clinical programs based in Edmonton, and of new local and countrywide educational programs in developmental pediatrics at all stages of a physician’s career. Considered by her colleagues to be a superb clinician and medical educator, she was recognized in 2019 by the Canadian Paediatric Society with a life membership for ‘outstanding work in the areas of developmental disabilities and child mental health.’ ”
Peretz, Dwight I.
May 27, 2020 MoreBurnaby, BC; University of British Columbia (UBC), 1956; internal medicine, cardiology; professor emeritus, UBC. Died May 27, 2020, aged 88. Survived by 2 sons and 5 grandchildren. “Dwight was born in Shanghai, and during WW II he spent 2 years in a Japanese concentration camp. His parents sent him to the US, and then to Canada, after the war. He had a fulfilling career as a cardiologist at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver until he retired. He was proud to have led the design and building of the first Intensive Care Unit in Canada, where he was the director for many years. He was equally proud to have been asked to serve as chief of staff at the hospital, and was also honoured to be named a Master of the American College of Cardiology, which is a rare honour and marked one of the few times it has been bestowed on a cardiologist outside the United States. Dwight also did significant volunteer work, including service as president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and he taught medical school students from UBC for most of his career.”
Dupras, Georges
May 26, 2020 MoreMcGill University, 1968; nuclear medicine. Died May 26, 2020, aged 83. Survived by his wife, Suzanne d’Apollonia, 3 children and 10 grandchildren.
Murphy, Edward G.
May 26, 2020 MoreMississauga, Ont.; University of London (England), 1945; pediatrics. Died May 26, 2020, aged 98.
Le Bouthillier, J. Perley
May 24, 2020 MoreMoncton, NB; Laval University, 1957; anesthesia. Died May 24, 2020, aged 92. Survived by his wife Ramona, 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. “He lived in Moncton for more than 40 years, and devoted his life to the sick, first as a doctor at the Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus RHSJ de Caraquet, NB, where he was a founding member, and subsequently as a specialist in anesthesia-resuscitation in Quebec hospitals and at the Center hospitalier universitaire Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont in Moncton.”
Boucher, Peter R.
May 23, 2020 MoreEdmonton; University of Ottawa, 1963; orthopedic surgery. Died May 23, 2020, aged 82. Survived by his wife Avril, 5 children and 5 grandchildren. “After medical school he eventually settled into a position as an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Alberta Hospital, where he practised from 1970-98. It was because of his career that he travelled the world, both to learn and to teach; Peter was inducted into many medical orders around the world. Locally, Peter also had the opportunity to work alongside his favourite football club, the Edmonton Eskimos, and he was team doctor for numerous Grey Cup wins.”
Haynes, W. Sterling
May 23, 2020 MoreKamloops, BC; University of Alberta, 1958; family medicine. Died May 23, 2020, aged 91. Survived by his wife Jessie, 4 daughters and 2 grandchildren. “Sterling wanted to go into education, but his father, a dental surgeon, suggested he study medicine, like his sister Shirley had. Between the 2 of them, they practised for 100 years. Public health was a calling for Sterling. He interned in California at the Oakland Medical Center’s Emergency Room, then worked in high-need areas like Williams Lake in BC and rural Alabama in the American Deep South. As a young doctor, he thrived at the Burris Clinic in Kamloops. Wherever he practised, he never said no to a consultation. He did rounds at prisons. He ran a VD clinic. He was the ‘Hockey Doc’ for the Kamloops Blazers. Once he counted the number of babies he had delivered — hundreds, he thought, maybe a thousand. His clinic was everywhere, and travel his only down time. Retirement didn’t suit Sterling. He took on locums and then evaluated workers’ compensation claims. For his immediate family, his peers in medicine and his wide circle of friends, he was always the go-to for any ailment. Even at his retirement home, he was happy to give a second opinion.”
Prakash, Anil
May 21, 2020 MoreSt. Albert, Alta.; Lucknow University (India), 1958; general surgery. Died May 21, 2020, aged 83. Survived by 4 children and 3 grandchildren. “In 1963 Anil completed his medical fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in England and began to practise in the UK. In 1970 he moved to St. Albert and practised there until his retirement in 2012. He was loved and respected by his many colleagues and patients that he was privileged to serve.”
Montgomery, G. Bruce
May 21, 2020 MoreBruce, Enfield, NS; Dalhousie University, 1981; family medicine. Died May 21, 2020, aged 63. Survived by his wife Lillian and 2 daughters. “Bruce loved being a family doctor. His colleagues and patients at the Elmsdale Medical Centre brought him great joy over his long medical career.”
Khaliq, S. Usman
May 21, 2020 MoreOttawa; University of the Punjab (Pakistan), 1956; anatomic pathology; PhD (University of Liverpool, England); Fulbright Scholar. Died May 21, 2020, aged 85. Survived by his wife Hanne, 3 children and 5 grandchildren. “Dr. Khaliq was a Fulbright Scholar in New York in 1957. He brought his family to Canada in 1974, and was division head of anatomic pathology at the Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick, as well as associate professor of pathology at Dalhousie University. He educated numerous medical students and residents over the years, and was known to be an exceptional teacher. He retired in 1999.”
Solymoss, Susan
May 20, 2020 MoreMontréal; McGill University, 1981; hematology. Died May 20, 2020, aged 65. Survived by 2 children. “Dr. Solymoss held a practice in hematology at St. Mary’s Hospital and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) for over 35 years. She was an associate professor of medicine and oncology at McGill, and also served as director of the Division of Hematology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the MUHC. An accomplished researcher with over 40 peer-reviewed publications, she was pragmatic, insightful and enthusiastic in the pursuit of new knowledge. Dr. Solymoss was a kind and generous person, steadfastly caring for her patients in the face of her illness, while supporting her 2 daughters and caring for her mother at home.”
Craig, Cecil B.
May 20, 2020 MoreAjax, Ont.; University of Toronto, 1965; family medicine; life member, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian College of Family Physicians and Ontario Medical Association. Died May 20, 2020, aged 87. Survived by his wife Joyce, 2 children and 4 grandchildren. “Following his intern years, Dr. Craig was a mainstay at Toronto General Hospital for 2 remarkable decades, where he partnered in the leadership of the Department of Family Medicine and delivered thousands of babies. After participating at the St. Clair-Dufferin Medical Centre, Cecil opened his own family practice while on staff at both the Toronto General and North York General hospitals, [where he taught] hundreds of young doctors throughout his career. On any given weekend, Dr. Craig could be found triaging as on-call physician for the many difficult cases that came into the Emergency Department of the North York General Hospital. He held many different teaching positions before retiring from solo practice in Markham, Ont., in 2016.”
Koven, Irving H.
May 16, 2020 MoreToronto; Dalhousie University, 1954; general surgery. Died May 16, 2020, aged 91. Survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. “Irv practised general surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto until his retirement in 2006. He was an associate professor at the University of Toronto and was a consultant surgeon at Baycrest. Irv was a well-respected surgeon and had a brilliant medical career. He exhibited qualities of a compassionate healer through his ability to care for his patients, and had a lasting positive impact on their lives.”
Arnott, James H.
May 16, 2020 MoreNewmarket, Ont.; University of Toronto, 1961; internal medicine. Died May 16, 2020, aged 83. Survived by his wife Joan, 2 children and 7 grandchildren. “Jim was an accomplished and devoted physician who specialized in internal medicine, endocrinology and nuclear medicine. He began his practice in 1967, with the opening of the Centenary Hospital in Scarborough, Ont., and retired in 2014 at age 78, after 47 years of caring for countless patients. Jim served as chief of medicine at the Centenary for 12 years, and was instrumental in the expansion of the hospital, the founding of an isotope lab and the establishment of the Coronary Care Unit. He was recognized as a top endocrinologist in Ontario, highly respected for his astute diagnostic skills and the phenomenal quality of care he provided for patients.”
Roukema, Job
May 15, 2020 MoreHamilton; University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), 1955; family medicine. Died May 15, 2020, aged 92. Survived by his wife Didy, 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. “He started his medical studies in Amsterdam in 1947 and was certified as a physician in The Netherlands in 1955. After immigrating to Canada in 1956 he completed the required Canadian residency program in Hamilton, and in 1957 was certified as a general physician and surgeon, with a certification in midwifery. He was passionate about family medicine, and was dedicated to the patients in his family practice near Ryckman’s Corners (Hamilton) for 38 years. After retirement from his family practice in 1996 he continued working part time for over 10 years, doing locums for physicians in the Hamilton area.”
Letendre, Joseph-Adrien
May 15, 2020 MoreAmos, Que.; Université Laval, 1960; orthopedic surgery; member, Order of Canada. Died May 15, 2020, aged 87. Survived by 4 children, 9 grandchildren and a great-grandson. Radio-Canada reported: “In 2000 he became a member of the Order of Canada for his ‘remarkable commitment to the development of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region,’ which made him a legendary figure in this corner of the province.”
Ridley, Charles M.
May 12, 2020 MoreMississauga, Ont.; University of Toronto (U of T), 1951; general practice. Died May 12, 2020, aged 95. Survived by his partner Joan, 5 daughters, 1 chosen daughter, 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. “After graduating from the U of T he opened his general practice on Brown’s Line, where he cared for the Alderwood community for over 40 years. He was always proud to be a founding doctor at the Queensway General Hospital, and after he closed his office he continued working on the surgical team there until he was 86, having practised medicine for 60 years.”
Seidmann, Tamara
May 11, 2020 MoreSaint John, NB; Komenskeho University (Czechoslovakia), 1979; anesthesia. Died May 11, 2020, aged 66.
Jeon, Yong-Kee
May 10, 2020 MoreSt. John’s; Yonsei University (South Korea), 1956; family medicine. Died May 10, 2020, aged 90. Survived by his wife, Suk-Gue, 5 children and 9 grandchildren. “After his training in South Korea and New York, he and Suk-Gue eventually moved to Old Perlican, Trinity Bay, in 1966 to start his Newfoundland career. In later years he often reflected that ‘it felt like he was going home.’ In 1968 he started to work in the Brookfield Cottage Hospital, New-Wes-Valley, Bonavista Bay, where he stayed for 25-plus years. While there, he established a lasting legacy of compassion, caring, and medical/surgical excellence, all accented with a clinical acumen that was unmatched. He was, by all accounts, an excellent mentor to the medical and nursing students and family practice residents who happened to venture into his orbit. Over the course of his 45-year medical career he achieved many great accomplishments, but a notable one was receiving the 1988 Canadian Family Physician of the Year Award, the first time that this prestigious award had been presented to a Newfoundland doctor. This award best represented his special relationship and commitment to his adopted country, province and outport home, in Brookfield.” VOCM Radio reported: “His commitment and care to the people of the area was so respected and appreciated that the Brookfield Hospital was renamed the Dr. Y.K. Jeon Kittiwake Health Centre in his honour in 2015.”
Rankin, John
May 9, 2020 MoreUpper Kingsclear, NB; Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland), 1978; vascular surgery. Died May 9, 2020, aged 73. Survived by his wife, Jane Sheridan. “John was raised in Belfast, where he trained in general surgery and obtained his fellowship in surgery and obstetrics from Edinburgh, graduating in 1971. He immigrated to Kingston, Ont., to further his training in vascular surgery at Queen’s University, where he obtained his Canadian fellowship. After moving to New Brunswick in 1978 he had a full, active and satisfying surgical career, and enjoyed teaching residents as well. He loved his work, his patients and his co-workers.”
Bocking, Douglas
May 9, 2020 MoreLondon, Ont.; University of Western Ontario (UWO), 1943; internal medicine, rheumatology; dean of medicine, UWO, 1965-78; founding board chair, London Intercommunity Health Centre; professor emeritus, Western University; member, Order of Canada. Died May 9, 2020, aged 99, due to complications following a broken hip. Survived by 6 children, 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. “Because of World War II, the class of Meds ’44 was accelerated, with graduation in August 1943 (Meds 43B). Following a 9-month internship at the Montreal General Hospital, Doug joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve as a surgeon lieutenant. After the war, he completed his post-graduate training at the Montreal General Hospital, followed by 2 years of general practice at the Smith Clinic in Hawkesbury, Ont. From 1950-52, Doug did further post-graduate training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and then returned to London to practise. His service as dean from 1965-78 was followed by the position of vice-president, health sciences, until 1984, and then service as vice-provost, health sciences, until 1987. At age 94, Doug decided to enhance his fitness level and joined a local gym. He valued physical fitness, and ran with Terry Fox when he went through London in 1980. Doug continued to participate in the Terry Fox Run for years, even though he was forced to walk in his final few years.”
O’Brien, Mary S.
May 5, 2020 MoreOttawa; University of Edinburgh (Scotland), 1947; general practice; director, Carleton University Health Services, 1979-89; Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Carleton University. Died May 5, 2020, aged 95. Survived by 5 children and 12 grandchildren. “Upon graduation Mary came to Canada to take up medical residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Queen’s University. Married to Dr. John O’Brien, a wing commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force, she gave up her residency to have 5 children throughout many international military postings. She returned to work as a physician in Ottawa in 1964. She began general practice at Carleton University Health Services in 1969, and served as its director from 1979 until her retirement in 1989. While at the university she was instrumental in establishing the renowned Disabled Students Program, and she played a key role in developing the university’s Employee Assistance Program.”
Krause, Donald A.
May 5, 2020 MoreVancouver; University of Alberta, 1960; general practice. Died May 5, 2020, aged 84. Survived by his spouse, Joseph Gallentine, and their Westie, Rosco. “He went to medical school at the University of Alberta and did his residency at St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. He began his GP practice of 42 years in North Burnaby, and was always devoted to all of his patients.”
Lemay, Catherine
May 4, 2020 MoreTrois-Rivières, Que.; Université de Montréal, 1989; cardiology. Died May 4, 2020, aged 55.
Henderson, Donald J. (Jim)
May 2, 2020 MoreEtobicoke, Ont.; University of Western Ontario, 1964; psychiatry. Died May 2, 2020, aged 79, of complications related to Parkinson’s disease and COVID-19. Survived by his wife Karen, 3 children and 1 grandchild. “Jim had a lifelong interest in public and current affairs, and was elected as the member of provincial parliament for the riding of Humber for 3 terms. He served as parliamentary assistant to the ministers of Community and Social Services, Colleges and Universities, and for Ontario’s Anti-Drug Strategy. As a physician, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, he served as director of psychiatry at the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and psychiatrist-in-chief at the University of Toronto Student Health Services. Jim developed a special interest in developing countries in the Caribbean, and organized leading trade and medical delegations that visited there. He subsequently became fluent in Spanish, and was a guest lecturer at the University of Havana, where he assisted in the reintroduction of the study and practice of psychoanalysis in Cuba. As a psychiatrist, his specific focuses were on parenting, children and community care, including practising in remote Aboriginal communities.”
Nesdoly, Christine H.
May 2, 2020 MoreErin, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan, 1980; internal medicine, geriatric medicine. Died of brain cancer May 2, 2020, aged 64. Survived by her husband, W. John Snelgrove, and 2 children. “In spite of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 22 while in her second year at medical school, Christine, as was typical of her, persevered. She completed medical school and went on to specialize in internal medicine and sub-specialize in geriatric medicine. She had a very successful career in geriatric medicine, practising in Winnipeg, Kelowna, BC, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto and, finally, in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the William Osler Health System in Brampton and Etobicoke, Ont. Christine was a respected colleague and role model for many of her co-workers, and a beloved doctor for her elderly patients and their families. She loved and respected them in return. To say she is already deeply missed by family, friends, colleagues and patients is an understatement.”
MacNeill, Helen B.
May 1, 2020 MoreOttawa; University of Otago (New Zealand), 1963; anesthesiology. Died May 1, 2020, aged 81. Survived by her ex-husband, William MacNeill, 2 daughters and a grandson. “Helen enjoyed a long career in medicine, including 20 years as a pediatric anesthetist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.”
MacLeod, Eric C.
April 30, 2020 MoreSudbury, Ont.; University of Aberdeen (Scotland), 1954; psychiatry; British army. Died April 30, 2020, aged 90. Survived by his wife, Monique Proulx, 1 child, former wife Muiriel Checkeris and their 4 children, 5 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. “In 1964, Eric immigrated to Canada to accept a position as chief of psychiatry at Sudbury General Hospital. He was instrumental in building the infrastructure for psychiatric services in Sudbury, recruiting a number of psychiatric physicians (many from Scotland) over the years. Eric was a consummate medical practitioner and mental health advocate for his whole career. He was the longest-ever member of the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board, serving from June 1968 until his retirement in 2017.”
Morey, Dennis C.
April 30, 2020 MoreSaskatoon; University of Saskatchewan, 1976; anesthesiology. Died April 30, 2020, aged 75. Survived by his wife Nina, 2 children and 3 grandchildren. “Following completion of his residency, Dennis obtained a position as clinical assistant professor with the Department of Anesthesia at the University Hospital in Saskatoon from 1981-82, and he enjoyed teaching the medical undergraduate students during their rotation through the department. In 1982 he accepted a position with the Department of Anesthesia at St. Paul’s Hospital, and he enjoyed his work there with a variety of patients and providing their surgical/anesthesia/obstetrical care. He was also involved in establishing the epidural service for labour and delivery in the Department of Obstetrics. In 1989, Dennis suffered a grand mal seizure and required hospitalization. A CT scan revealed a large left parietal tumour. A craniotomy revealed a large brain abscess (the result of an infected dental root canal) that was drained. The following years included seizures and significant neurocognitive impairment, which resulted in his resignation from St. Paul’s.”
Macdonald, Ronald D.
April 29, 2020 MoreSalem, Ont.; University of Manitoba, 1960; neurology. Died April 29, 2020, aged 86. Survived by a son. “Ron practised as a neurologist at the Wellesley and Princess Margaret hospitals in Toronto, as well as in Port Hope, Fergus and Elora, Ont.”
Farquhar, Donald J.
April 29, 2020 MoreDelta, BC; University of British Columbia (UBC), 1958; family medicine. Died April 29, 2020, aged 86. Survived by his spouse Rochelle, 3 children, 2 stepchildren and his grandchildren and step-grandchildren. “Don thrived in his career in family medicine, practising in Kerrisdale, BC, and at the UBC Student Health Service, where he retired as director in 1996. He also served as an auxiliary medical officer for the Royal Canadian Air Force and as president of the Vancouver Medical Association. He was awarded the Dr David M. Bachop Gold Medal for Distinguished Medical Service by Doctors of BC in 2011.”
Pagé, Arthur A.
April 29, 2020 MoreLaval, Que.; Université de Montréal, 1955; thoracic surgery. Died April 29, 2020, aged 90. Survived by his wife, Lizette Corbeil, 2 children and 2 grandchildren. “A vascular and thoracic surgeon, Dr. Pagé worked at the Sacré-Cœur Hospital in Montréal, where he founded the Department of Vascular Surgery. During a career lasting more than 37 years, he served as head of vascular, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, and head of the Department of Surgery. He also obtained the rank of full professor in the Department of Surgery at the Université de Montréal.”
Caldwell, Douglas Y.
April 28, 2020 MoreToronto; University of Toronto, 1952; anesthesiology; past president, Ontario Medical Association (OMA). Died April 28, 2020, aged 92. Survived by 3 children, 8 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. “After medical school he worked for a time in his father’s family practice before completing his residency in anesthesia in Sheffield, England. He returned to join the staff at Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH) and was there from 1959 to 1993, then travelled the province doing locums as far away as James Bay until his retirement in 1998. In 1979-80 he served as President of the OMA, and he was also a charter member and sometime chair of the OMA’s Insurance Committee, and charter chair of the Ethics Committee at TEGH.”
Kandalaft, Nicolas
April 28, 2020 MoreLaval, Que.; American University of Beirut (Lebanon), 1964; endocrinology and metabolism. Died April 28, 2020, aged 82. Survived by his wife, Yacout Chammas, 3 children and 5 grandchildren. “Dr. Kandalaft was a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the Université de Sherbrooke from 1971 to 1987, and subsequently practised as an endocrinologist in Laval from 1987 to 2008.”
Sarles, Sally A.
April 28, 2020 MorePicton, Ont.; University of Toronto, 1954; general practice. Died April 28, 2020, aged 88. Survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Clapp. “Sally interned at the Toronto General, but turned down an invitation to do surgery and returned home to Wellington, Ont., to practise from 1955-60. After marrying Bob, Sally moved 12 miles down the road to Picton to practise medicine until 2002. She loved practising and her patients, and in 1991 was recipient of the Ontario Medical Association’s Glenn Sawyer Service Award, which recognizes service to the profession and community.”
Rogan, Ernest
April 28, 2020 MoreSt. Albert, Alta.; University of Alberta, 1984; psychiatry. Died April 28, 2020, aged 61. Survived by his wife Anne, 3 stepdaughters and 3 grandchildren. “He was a kind, compassionate and dedicated psychiatrist, and worked for Alberta Health Services in Edmonton and the surrounding area for almost 35 years.”
Reid, Debbie H.
April 28, 2020 MoreSt. John’s; Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1980; pediatrics. Died April 28, 2020, aged 66. “Debbie graduated from high school in 1972 and went to Dalhousie University to study science, with the ambition of getting into medical school. Being an intelligent woman, she ascertained (rightfully so) that, at the time, being accepted to med school as a female might be tricky, so she applied as D.H. Reid instead of Debbie, and it worked — she was accepted at Memorial and, after graduating, went on to pediatric training in London, Ont. When her training was complete it was back to St. John’s, where she spent her entire career in pediatric medicine and pediatric critical care, first at the original Janeway Hospital and then at the new Janeway. And how she loved her work at the hospital, how she loved the kids and their families. She would go to great lengths for ‘her kids,’ taking in movies and treats and books, anything to keep up their spirits. She adored them. Debbie died the way she wanted, privately and on her terms. She gave up chemo when it became apparent that she was sicker with it than without it. And she chose to die at home, in familiar surroundings. The hospital was not for her! She had spent all her adult life in the hospital, usually in the pediatric intensive care unit that she not only established but also ran — like the captain of a ship. And her ‘crew’ was intensely proud of her and loyal to her. [When she retired due to ill health], a plaque was placed at the Janeway. It read, in part: ‘In honour of Dr. Debbie Reid, Founder of Modern Pediatric Critical Care in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.’ ”
Hreno, Andrew
April 28, 2020 MoreMontréal; Queen’s University, 1959; general surgery. Died April 28, 2020, aged 85. Survived by 3 children, his companion, Laida Boyadjian, and 4 grandchildren. “After attending medical school at Queen’s University, Andy went on to save many lives as a general surgeon at the Montreal General Hospital.”
Ghatak, Sasanka S.
April 27, 2020 MoreRichmond, BC; University of Calcutta (India), 1955; internal medicine. Died April 27, 2020, aged 88.
Swan, Matthew H. (Matt)
April 27, 2020 MoreBroadlands, Que.; Dalhousie University, 1955; general practice. Died April 27, 2020, aged 90. Survived by his wife Sandra, 2 daughters, their mother, Gladys Swan, and 2 grandchildren. “Matt was well known in the Campbellton, NB, area, where he practised as a doctor for more than 50 years.”
Barker (Collister), Sharon L.
April 26, 2020 MoreWinnipeg; University of Manitoba, 1981; family medicine. Died April 26, 2020, aged 63. Survived by her husband, Carl Collister, 5 children and 3 grandchildren. “She practised family medicine in Winnipeg, always devoted in her dealings with her patients and their families.”
Théocharidès, Pierre C.
April 25, 2020 MoreLachine, Que.; Université de Pierre et Marie Curie (France), 1956; general surgery. Died April 25, 2020, aged 91. Survived by 2 children and 5 grandchildren. “Born in Egypt, he completed his medical studies in France before settling in Canada in 1956. He practised thoracic and vascular surgery at the Verdun Hospital in Quebec for almost 40 years, 10 of which were as head of the Department of Surgery.”
Scott, David J.
April 25, 2020 MoreOrangeville, Ont.; University of Toronto, 1956; general surgery. Died April 25, 2020, aged 88. Survived by 3 children and 4 grandchildren. “In 1950, following in his father’s footsteps, he attended the University of Toronto, graduating from medical school in 1956 and from general surgery training in 1962. David practised general surgery from 1962 to 1997, and served as chief of staff at the Orangeville Hospital from 1983 to 1989. Known over his career for his quiet leadership and diplomacy, he believed strongly in community service and worked tirelessly in different roles to strengthen relationships within the health care field and between health care and other community services. David served on several local, provincial and national health care advisory committees, as well as the Dufferin County Board of Education and the Orangeville Planning Board. In the 1990s, he led the Dufferin Area Hospital’s Steering Committee on Alternative Health Care Delivery Systems, which was tasked with developing a blueprint for health care in the new millennium. He also chaired the Wellington-Dufferin District Health Council for 4 years, and went on to lead the Headwaters Area Linkage Committee, a group that convened the leadership of all area community services. Well into his 80s, David continued to help recruit young physicians to Dufferin County.”
Day, Albert
April 24, 2020 MoreSt-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.; Université de Montréal, 1953; general practice. Died April 24, 2020, aged 93. Survived by his wife, Armande Senay, 3 children and 2 grandchildren. “After medical school he began a long career as a general practitioner, and delivered more than 2000 babies at the hospital and also in homes. Accustomed to the long hours of medical practice at the time, when he usually worked between 70 and 90 hours per week, both in office and at home, he decided to take a ‘pre-retirement’ in 1992 by joining the CLSC staff at St-Laurent, where they were only asked to work 35 hours a week! He finally retired in 1996, after 43 years in practice.”
Hull, Ralph F.
April 23, 2020 MoreAlberton, PEI; University of Toronto, 1959; psychiatry. Died April 23, 2020, aged 87. Survived by his wife Sherri, 4 children and 4 grandchildren. “Ralph practised psychiatry for many years in Peterborough, Ont., before retiring in Alberton in 2008.”
Jinnah, Mohamed G.
April 22, 2020 MoreMississauga, Ont.; South Africa, 1958; general practice. Died April 22, 2020, aged 88.
Moors, David E.
April 22, 2020 MoreOttawa; Queen’s University, 1952; urology; past president, Canadian Urological Association. Died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis April 22, 2020, aged 92. Survived by 6 children and 7 grandchildren. “In early 1960, after 5 years of general practice in the small prairie town of Bengough, Sask., David moved to Montréal, where he completed his specialist residency in urology at the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1963. After practising in Vancouver for 2 years, David established a very successful practice as a urologic surgeon in Ottawa, where he was highly respected in the greater medical community and trained and mentored students in urology at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.”
O’Brien, Dermot
April 20, 2020 MoreHuntsville, Ont.; National University of Ireland, 1970; ophthalmology. Died April 20, 2020, aged 74. Survived by his wife Mary, 3 children and a granddaughter. “After an internship in Chicago, he did his residency in ophthalmology at McGill. He worked in Sudbury, Ont., before coming to Hamilton in 1990, and he served Hamilton and surrounding communities for more than 3 decades. He was an outstanding clinician, a gifted surgeon and, more than anything, a true gentleman who had compassion for his patients and a warmth that earned him a great many friends. All members of the Department of Ophthalmology, including physicians, nurses and technicians, will miss him dearly. He was a long-standing member of the Hamilton Academy of Medicine and St. Joseph’s Hospital, and was also a teacher in the residency training program in ophthalmology at McMaster University.”
Braaten, Erik P.
April 19, 2020 MoreBrampton, Ont.; University of Toronto, 1966; general practice. Died April 19, 2020, aged 78. Survived by 3 children, their mother Victoria, and 4 grandchildren. “Erik was a general practitioner who started his practice in Bramalea, Ont., in 1967. He had a long career working in the community and at Peel Memorial Hospital. He was an old-style GP who delivered babies, made house calls and worked in the Emergency Department. He is still remembered affectionately by his colleagues and patients.”
From, Lynn
April 19, 2020 MoreToronto; University of Toronto, 1963; dermatology, anatomical pathology; past president, Canadian Dermatology Association. Died due to progressive supranuclear palsy April 19, 2020, aged 81. Survived by 3 children and 4 grandchildren. “Despite her year-and-a-half fellowship at Harvard Medical School and 2 articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine, when she returned to Toronto she was rejected for positions in dermatology because they needed men to fill the many teaching positions coming available. At the time, women were expected to stay home and take care of their children, and the young couple had 3. In Boston she had sampled that existence, but [her husband] George insisted she get back to work before her catatonic state became terminal. She adored her work, and so she persevered in defiance of any sexist obstacle thrown in her path. Lynn became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in dermatology in 1971, and in anatomical pathology in 1972. She started lecturing at the University of Toronto in 1972, and was appointed associate professor in both medicine and pathology in 1984, and later was appointed professor. She was on staff at Sunnybrook Medical Centre, working in dermatology and pathology, from 1972 to 1981. In 1981 she joined the staff of Women’s College Hospital, where she served as chief of pathology until 1992. She followed that up as head of dermatology at Women’s College from 1993 to 2000. Throughout her career Lynn authored textbook chapters, conducted research studies and gave many lectures around the world, mostly on melanoma. She served on the Women’s College Hospital Board of Directors, the Women’s College Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, and as president of the Women's College Hospital Medical Staff Association during the amalgamation of Sunnybrook and Women’s College hospitals. In 2006, she was presented the Award of Merit from the Canadian Dermatology Association in recognition of her excellence in leadership, dermatology education and public health.”
Stevenson, Kim
April 19, 2020 MoreBrentwood Bay, BC; University of the Orange Free State (South Africa), 1988; anesthesiology. Died April 19, 2020, aged 55.
St-Hilaire, Gilles
April 18, 2020 MoreQuébec; Université Laval, 1965; psychiatry. Died April 18, 2020, aged 80. Survived by his wife, Nicole Fontaine, and 2 daughters.
Braaten, Jan T.
April 18, 2020 MoreToronto; University of Oslo (Norway), 1962; endocrinology and metabolism. Died April 18, 2020, aged 83. Survived by 4 sons and 3 grandchildren. “Jan’s curiosity, ambition and sense of adventure led him to receive training, practise medicine and conduct research in several countries. This included time in Norway, Denmark, the Républic Démocratique du Congo, Canada, and several states in the US. Jan settled down in Ottawa, where he was hired as a professor at the University of Ottawa and served as a physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. During this time, he conducted research focused on diabetes and continued to see patients regularly. Jan genuinely cared for his patients, and was known to listen carefully and take the time needed to help address their challenges. His hard work was recognized when he received the Frederick G. Banting Award from the Canadian Diabetes Association in 1985.” Colleague Mark Silverman commented: “Jan Braaten was my mentor and the reason I became an endocrinologist. I am honoured to have known him, and I remain thankful for what he taught me as a physician, teacher, mentor and friend.”
Murphy, Claude H.
April 16, 2020 MoreSelkirk, Man.; Canadian army, WW II; University of Manitoba, 1953; family medicine; past president, College of Family Physicians of Canada. Died April 16, 2020, aged 101. Survived by 4 children, 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. “Dad spent a large part of his medical career affiliated with both Misericordia and St. Boniface hospitals in Winnipeg. He was instrumental in founding the Department of Family Practice and residency program at St. Boniface Hospital, and served as president of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians. He was a wonderful teacher, and was responsible for instructing some of Canada’s finest family physicians. An award in his name is given to a member of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians who wishes to develop or improve his/her skills as a teacher and preceptor of medical trainees.” A former colleague wrote: “Dr. Murphy taught me that a family doctor is an important part of the community by example. I learned from him how to choose and chair a committee. His influence on my career was profound, and I am forever grateful.”
Dao, Huy H.
April 15, 2020 MoreMontréal; Université de Montréal, 2010; public health, preventive medicine; faculty member, Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke. Died because of COVID-19 infection April 15, 2020, aged 45. The CBC reported: “He was the first health care worker in Quebec to die because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) expressed its ‘deepest condolences’ to Dao’s friends, colleagues and loved ones. ‘The medical community is mourning the loss of one our own, while also acknowledging all those who have passed away across the country and around the world,’ said CMA president Dr. Sandy Buchman.”
Leckie, Michael I.
April 14, 2020 MoreVancouver; University of London (England), 1958; general practice. Died April 14, 2020, aged 87.
Kim, Kwang D.
April 13, 2020 MoreBurnaby, BC; Yonsei University (South Korea), 1959; general practice. Died April 13, 2020, aged 86. Survived by his wife, 4 children and 7 grandchildren. “He was born in Pyongyang, North Korea. He and his family escaped to South Korea when he was 13. He immigrated to Canada in 1965, where he practised medicine for over 40 years.”
Damonze, Ramsay S.
April 9, 2020 MoreToronto; University of Cape Town (South Africa), 1955; psychiatry. Died April 9, 2020, aged 87.
Norris, John W.
April 8, 2020 MoreLondon, England; University of Aberdeen (Scotland), 1957; British army; neurology; former consultant in neurology, Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Toronto; professor emeritus, neurology, St. George’s (University of London). Died April 8, 2020, aged 86. An In Memoriam article in the journal Stroke stated: “No history of vascular neurology would be complete without the name of John W. Norris. We have lost him to coronavirus disease (COVID 19), but his contributions continue to have an impact.” His accomplishments included establishing Canada’s first acute stroke unit at Sunnybrook and founding the Canadian Stroke Consortium, a move that brought “all 45 Canadian stroke centres under 1 umbrella to carry out controlled clinical trials.” Former colleague Natan Bornstein wrote: “I can definitely say that I owe John my entire international career. I am sure that his many fellows (25) from 4 continents share the same views and feelings for our ‘academic father,’ a mentor, a gentleman, a colleague, and friend whom we will all miss and remember.”
Milot, Martin
April 8, 2020 MoreTrois-Rivières, Que.; Université de Sherbrooke, 1976; orthopedic surgery. Died April 8, 2020, aged 68. Survived by his wife, Cécile Provencher, 3 children and a grandchild.
Desai, Ghanshyam R. (Tom)
April 8, 2020 MoreMount Pearl, NL; Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), 1972; general practice. Died April 8, 2020, aged 77. Survived by 2 children, their mother Peggy, and 4 grandchildren. “He was so proud to become a Canadian citizen in the late 1970s, and he loved Newfoundland. He often remarked, ‘Why would anyone want to go anywhere else!’ Our Dad had a long and successful medical career, which he truly loved. He worked at the Waterford Hospital in geriatric care for 33 years, held evening clinics at Mount Pearl Medical Centre for 30 years, and enjoyed working ‘overseas’ on Bell Island.”
Manitius, Danuta M.
April 7, 2020 MoreCourtice, Ont.; Polish School of Medicine (Scotland), 1948; general practice. Died April 7, 2020, aged 97. Survived by 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. “Dr. Manitius earned her medical degree in Scotland and practised medicine in Scotland, Argentina and Canada. She was the first female physician in Durham Region of Ontario, and founded the Cardiac Rehabilitation Organization in 1970.”
Lavigne, Pierre
April 7, 2020 MoreLongueuil, Que.; Université de Montréal, 1958; orthopedic surgery. Died April 7, 2020, aged 88. Survived by his wife, Lise Simard, 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Sicard, Fernand
April 7, 2020 MoreSainte-Thérèse, Que.; Université de Montréal, 1962; otolaryngology. Died April 7, 2020, aged 82. Survived by 3 sons, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Fayle, Brian W.
April 6, 2020 MoreGuelph, Ont.; Cambridge University (England), 1956; diagnostic radiology. Died April 6, 2020, aged 89. Survived by his wife Cheryl, 4 children, 5 stepchildren, 5 grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren. “Shortly after arriving in Canada, Brian realized he was getting too involved in patients’ personal problems and would be better off at arm’s length. This meant radiology or pathology. He preferred the living to the dead . . . so radiology was the choice. He was accepted into the Toronto General Hospital program in 1958, and in 1962 he joined the Radiology Department in Galt, Ont., now part of Cambridge. During his career Brian was a pioneer in diagnostic ultrasound, which he brought to the Cambridge Hospital in 1975. This was the first non-teaching hospital in Canada to have ultrasound. His medical career included work in public and private practice in Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.”
Guard, Michael C.
April 3, 2020 MoreWest Vancouver; Cambridge University (England), 1953; general practice. Died April 3, 2020, aged 92. Survived by 3 children and 4 grandchildren. “After his army service and practising in England, he immigrated to Canada and settled in Vancouver, where he was chief of medical staff at Lions Gate Hospital and had a bustling practice in West Vancouver. In the late ’70s his adventurous spirit took him to Stewart, BC, where he was the sole doctor for the employees and their families at the Granduc copper mine. He was on call for everything, from delivering countless babies, dealing with the aftermath of drunken brawls and conducting autopsies on dolphins on behalf of the Vancouver Aquarium, to caring for the British cast and crew on a glacier while they were shooting Bear Island. On his return to Vancouver, Dad worked for the CU&C Health Services Society in Vancouver, mentoring young doctors who, to this day, continue to pass on his clinical advice to their students.”
Gelling, Barry M.
April 1, 2020 MoreVictoria; University of Calgary, 1965; general practice. Died April 1, 2020, aged 80, due to complications of Parkinson’s disease “which he courageously and meticulously dealt with for 20 years.” Survived by his wife Sharon, 3 children and 5 grandchildren. “Barry was a general practitioner in Victoria for 39 years at the Saanich Medical Clinic on Saanich Road. He loved delivering babies, any time, day or night. He counted them, over 1000 babies, and he knew the names of them all.”
MacDonald, Doreen I.
March 30, 2020 MoreMississauga, Ont.; University of Toronto (U of T), 1950; diagnostic radiology. Died March 30, 2020, aged 93. Survived by her children and grandchildren. “After medical school Doreen went into family practice with a fellow classmate, and worked delivering the babies of the baby boom, working at hospitals throughout the Greater Toronto Area to get enough maternity beds to handle all her patients. When she had her second child she decided she needed a job where she got some sleep at night, and so she went to U of T to study radiology. She trained with some of the pioneers of the subject at Sunnybrook and other local hospitals. Later, the family moved to Ghana, West Africa, for 2 years to teach medicine. This was followed by 4 years in Uganda. For a time, Doreen was the only radiologist in the country! She loved living and working in Africa, making friends with the locals and people from other countries who were working in the countries we lived in.”
Chychota, Norman N.
March 30, 2020 MoreTaber, Alta.; University of Manitoba 1968; general surgery. Died March 30, 2020, aged 79. Survived by his wife Diana, 2 daughters and his grandchildren. “Norm earned a degree in agriculture before moving to medicine. He eventually trained in general surgery at the University of Manitoba and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.”