In Memoriam

Lives well lived


CLASS OF JANUARY 4T3

Dr. James Rae ANDERSON, at age 101, on February 21, 2022. In the Second World War, Jay was a medical officer in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Core. On discharge in 1946, he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. This led to six months in various sanitaria followed by six months of limited activity. In 1948, he opened a family practice in Campbellford, Ontario, his home town. After four years of solo practice, however, his tuberculosis became active again. Seeking regular hours, Jay returned to U of T to earn a Diploma in Public Health. He practised public health in Orillia, Ontario, for eight years and in Peterborough, Ontario, for four years. Then, from 1966 to 1975, Jay was the Editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. After his wife’s death in 2017, Jay moved to London, Ontario, to be with Dr. Katherine Turner (Class of 5T7). They had four happy years together. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 4T8

Dr. George Frederick John CAMPION, at age 97, on December 30, 2021. After graduating, George and his wife, Esther, a nurse, joined Sudan Interior Mission as medical missionaries. In London, England, George did additional training in surgery and tropical medicine for 10 months. Then, they travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, and took a dirt road to the remote village of Egbe. In 1951, George founded Egbe Hospital and in 1955, the School of Nursing. In Egbe, he served alongside other missionaries for 36 years as a physician, surgeon, and medical director. As well, he practised at Galmi Hospital in Niger for two years. In 1986, they returned to Canada, and George practised at St. Catharines General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario, until retiring at age 88. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 4T9

Dr. Alan Wilfred HARRISON, at age 95, on October 2, 2020, in Markham, Ontario. Alan was Chief of Surgery at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. In that role, he led the establishment of the Emergency Department in 1967 and lobbied to create the trauma and cancer programs. With the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, he served on the examination boards for internal medicine, plastic surgery, general surgery, otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.


CLASS OF 5T1

Dr. Wilbert Willoughby BELCH, at age 94, on January 24, 2022. Bill interned at Toronto East General Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In 1959, he started a surgical practice in Peterborough, Ontario, and continued practising there for more than 50 years. At Christmas, Bill would dress up as Santa Claus and ride his unicycle up and down the hospital halls to the delight of the patients and staff. Bill grew up on a farm and missed farming. His imagination was sparked by an ad in the Financial Post saying that buffalo from Elk Island National Park near Edmonton would be sold. In 1969, Bill had 44 buffalo from Elk Island; eventually, the herd grew to 400. The farm sold buffalo meat at numerous farmers’ markets. Bill retired from his private surgical practice at age 70. Family’s memorial

Dr. Lorne Pennington LAING, at age 95, on December 24, 2021, in Toronto. For 40 years, Lorne was a family practitioner. He also practised at Wellesley Hospital clinics during the AIDS epidemic. Lorne liked tennis, the family cottage, and the intricacies of bridge. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 5T2

Dr. Joseph Paul RANALLI, at age 92, on December 24, 2021, in Hamilton. “Doc Joe” interned at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and then moved to Hamilton, where he began 40 years of primary care in partnership with Dr. Charles Agro. Together, they provided all of the maternity care in their practice, performed minor surgical procedures, admitted their patients to hospital, and covered overnight shifts in the emergency department. Joe appreciated classical music (especially Gustav Mahler), opera (particularly Puccini), and always had season tickets to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 5T4

Dr. Alan Bruce GIFFEN, at age 91, on January 1, 2022. Alan practised obstetrics and gynecology for over 50 years, primarily at Toronto East General Hospital where he delivered close to 10,000 babies. Family’s memorial 


CLASS OF 5T9

Dr. Macey DENNIS, at age 86, on December 6, 2021, in Sacramento, California. Macey specialized in asthmatic allergies, practising with the Kaiser Permanente managed care consortium for almost 50 years. When he retired at age 75, he said it took too much out of him to watch his patients age and die. Macey enjoyed the outdoors, particularly fishing, and had a home in rural Oregon where he could escape the city. Family’s memorial

 

 

 

Dr. Stuart Bruce LEE, on February 13, 2022, in Toronto. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 6T0

Dr. Gordon Stanley FOX, on January 18, 2022, in Toronto. Gordon did his residency at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and became an anesthesiologist at both Jewish General and Royal Victoria Hospital. Gordon returned to Toronto to be the Deputy Chief of Anesthesiology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Over 10 years, Gordon pioneered the use of anesthesia care teams in Ontario and oversaw the stabilization, growth, and maturation of the department. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 6T1

Dr. Bernard FOGEL, on October 15, 2021. Family’s memorial

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Clayton Lyle NATTA, at age 88, on February 10, 2021, in New York City. After a one-year research position at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Scotland, Clayton completed a hematology fellowship at New York University’s School of Medicine. His primary area of research was cell mutation, sickle cell anemia, and other blood disorders. Clayton was an associate professor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia Presbyterian, and the Chief of Hematology at Harlem Hospital. He had a private medical practice in Harlem and was known for his willingness to help anyone who needed medical care, whether they could pay or not.

 


CLASS OF 6T2

Dr. John Ross CORLESS, at age 82, on March 30, 2020, in Mississauga, Ontario. For two years, John was a family physician in Peterborough, Ontario, and then returned to U of T to study orthopedics. After graduating, John set up an orthopedics practice in Brampton, Ontario. He held Easter Seal clinics, a number of which were in his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. An avid outdoorsman, John enjoyed hunting and fly fishing, and crafted his own flies. Family’s memorial 

 

 

Dr. Bluett McLay OVERHOLT, at age 83, on April 11, 2021, in Brantford, Ontario. In 1964, Bluett took over his father’s family practice in Brantford. Family’s memorial 

Dr. Marshall Leo REDHILL, on July 24, 2019, in Toronto. He was an obstetrician and gynecologist in Scarborough, Ontario. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 6T3

Dr. Donald Peter CAROM, on January 6, 2022. “Dr. Don” was a family physician for 47 years. In addition, he was a pilot, artist, and singer. Family’s memorial

Dr. Jacob FRIEDBERG, at age 84, on December 11, 2021, in Toronto. Jack trained as an otolaryngologist at U of T, then started a private practice in the city with Drs Arnold Noyek (Class of 6T1) and Jerry Chapnick (Class of 6T2). Eventually, they joined teaching hospitals, with Jack practising at the Hospital for Sick Children. He focused on diseases of the ear, becoming one of the first subspecialized otologists in pediatrics. In the early 2000s, he was the Otolaryngologist-in-Chief at SickKids. Family’s memorial 

Dr. Alan JOHNSTON, at age 82, on December 7, 2021. Alan practised in Danville and Sherbrooke, Quebec; and in Orleans and Ottawa, Ontario. He retired in 2013. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 6T4

Dr. Sonilal Ramsumair PANCHAM, at age 85, on November 17, 2021, in Kingston. Soni was an obstetrician and gynecologist at Kingston General Hospital and a professor at Queen’s University from 1971 to 2001. After retiring, he volunteered for medical missions in Zambia and Guyana, and for several other charities. In his free time, Soni enjoyed working in his award-winning garden and walking his much loved dogs. Family’s memorial 


CLASS OF 6T5

Dr. Laurie SILVERBERG, on December 4, 2021, in Oakville, Ontario. Laurie specialized in cardiology and nephrology, and was part of Toronto’s first group of physicians to perform heart transplants and peritoneal dialysis. A Zionist, Laurie volunteered in Israel as a civilian physician during times of war. Laurie had six children including Dr. Mark Silverberg (Class of 9T2). Laurie’s twin brother, Dr. Stephen Silverberg (Class of 6T5), died in 2009. Family’s memorial

 

 

Dr. George Robert TURNER, at age 81, on January 9, 2022, in Mississauga. A family practitioner, Bob had a private practice in Etobicoke, Ontario, and practised at several hospitals: St. Joseph’s, the Queensway, Runnymede, and West Park. He enjoyed skiing, cycling, model airplanes, home renovation, and walking the family’s dogs. Family’s memorial

Dr. Glen Richard VAN LOON, at age 81, on January 29, 2022, in Murray, Kentucky. Glen earned a PhD in endocrinology at the University of California’s School of Medicine in 1970. For 20 years, Glen taught at U of T, and practised internal medicine and endocrinology at Toronto General Hospital. In 1990, Glen moved to Kentucky where he taught at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, continuing to practise right up until his passing. In his spare time, Glen owned and showed Samoyed dogs. The family also kept horses; at its peak, the farm had 45 Paso Fino horses. Glen leaves behind three brothers including Dr. John David Van Loon (Class of 6T8) of Millbrook, Ontario. Family’s memorial 


CLASS OF 6T6

Dr. Stalin HARDIN, at age 79, on January 9, 2022, in Kuching, Malaysia. Stalin was a State Health Director with the Sarawak Medical and Health Department in Malaysia from 1983 to 1996. Rather than being office-bound, Stalin implemented and supervised government health policies at rural clinics, health sub-centres, and sub-dispensaries by travelling to them by longboat and even on foot. By introducing clinic management and treatment procedures, and furthering sanitation facilities, Stalin helped raise the standard of health in the rural areas. After retiring in 1996, he was actively involved in charitable and welfare organizations. Obituary in Borneo Post 

Dr. William Arthur TILLY, at age 81, on March 13, 2022, in Oshawa, Ontario. William was a general practitioner for almost 40 years. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 6T7

Dr. Jeffrey Jay HURWITZ, at age 78, on February 4, 2022, in Toronto. Jeff served as Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital for 31 years, the longest serving chief in the hospital’s history. For 12 years, he was Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences at U of T. Later, he was its Vice-Chair for Global Health. Jeff was a founder of the Kensington Eye Institute and, subsequently, was its Academic Director. His landmark book, The Lacrimal System, was a foundational text for numerous academic programs. Jeff spent over 25 years helping increase the profile of ophthalmology in the West Indies and around the world, building lifelong friendships along the way. Family’s memorial 


CLASS OF 7T0

Dr. David ETLIN, on August 14, 2021. Family’s memorial

Dr. Richard Earl LEVY, on January 7, 2022. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 7T1

Dr. William Frederick BENNETT, on March 11, 2022, in Oakville, Ontario. For 31 years, Fred was a thoracic surgeon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton. Family’s memorial

Dr. Robert Norman McKENZIE, at age 75, on December 28, 2021. Robert was an anesthesiologist for 25 years at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Later, he was a coroner in York Region and Muskoka, Ontario. Rob enjoyed bird watching, golfing, cross-country skiing, sailing, and anything to do with hockey. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 7T2

Dr. Fred GENTILI, on January 15, 2022, in Toronto. Fred received a McLaughlin Fellowship to pursue advanced training in skull base surgery and micro-neurosurgery; he completed clinical fellowships at the University of Zurich, and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (Queen Square) in London, England. In 1982, he joined the neurosurgery staff at Toronto General Hospital, specializing in skull base surgery, pituitary surgery, and radiosurgery. Later, he became the Deputy Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital. Fred was also a U of T professor, the Crean Hotson Chair in Skull Base Surgery, and the Alan and Susan Hudson Chair in Neuro-Oncology. He was the first Director of U of T’s Skull Base Centre. Family’s memorial

Dr. Hans Dietrich STRAUSS, at age 77, on January 19, 2022, in Toronto. After graduating, Hans did a cardiology fellowship at U of T. Then in 1985, he helped found Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. Hans enjoyed cottage life in Muskoka, Ontario, biking, hiking, and swimming. His deteriorating health forced his retirement at age 77, shortly before his death. Family’s memorial  


CLASS OF 7T5

Dr. Larry McCUTCHEON, at age 72, on December 28, 2021. Larry was a family physician in Midland, Ontario, for more than 43 years. A lifelong boater on Georgian Bay, Ontario, Larry taught others to respect the waters in his beloved bay in Lake Huron. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 8T5

Dr. Michael Allan LEVENSTEIN, at age 60, on August 29, 2020. Michael was a family practitioner and Torah scholar. Family’s memorial


CLASS OF 0T0

Dr. Robert James SARGEANT, at age 54, on November 28, 2021. Rob joined the general internal medicine staff at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital in 2004, where he became the Clerkship Coordinator and the Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. An outstanding educator, Rob earned multiple honours, including the MAA’s Dr. Mary Hollington Clinical Teaching Award. In 2015, he was appointed the Director of St. Mike’s Division of General Internal Medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped develop policies and protocols for the care of individuals experiencing homelessness, which were widely adopted. A passionate cyclist, Rob pedalled thousands of kilometres on the roads north of Toronto, and through the mountains in Europe and British Columbia. Also a triathlete, he competed internationally in Ironman races. The Temerty Faculty of Medicine held a moment of silence in Rob’s honour at 11 a.m. on December 1. Family’s memorial


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