Dr. Patrick J Kinahan passed away peacefully, aged 90, on January 23rd, 2021, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind his wife Barbara, children Catherine, Thomas, Theresa, Peter, Michael, John, Maureen and Rosemary and their families, including 20 grandchildren. He was predeceased by baby daughter Margaret in 1957 and grandson Trevor in 2004.
Born August 3rd, 1930 in Nelson, Pat grew up in Trail, and graduated from UBC Medical School in 1955. While attending medical school, Pat was fortunate to meet Barbara Moodie, a young student nurse. They married in 1954 and enjoyed 66 happy years together.
Pat practiced family medicine in Point Grey for three years with Dr. Adam Waldie. In 1959, Pat and family moved to Prince George, where he worked as a family doctor. He often worked pro bono or accepted payment in the form of rustic but useful commodities like eggs, moose meat, and the occasional rowboat, in the days before universal health care.
In 1968, the family returned to Vancouver, where Pat became a cardiologist and teacher at VGH/UBC. Sunday dinners at the family home were great fun, and the lynchpin of the week. Although there were ten of us, there was always room for friends or newly arrived residents at these cheerful and noisy events. Pat would sit at the dinner table and lecture his children and any guests on such topics as the importance of family and how to take a good patient history.
Teaching was a highlight of Pat’s career; he loved it, spent thousands of hours at it, and by all accounts, was a remarkable teacher. He instructed and mentored many young residents.
After Pat “retired” in 1998, he did locums for Dr. Saul Isserow at UBC Hospital. Many of his patients followed him and Dr. Isserow became a dear friend. Pat also served on the Council of the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Pat finally retired from the practice of medicine in BC in 2012, at age 82.
After his sailboat blew away in the great Vancouver storm of 1957, Pat focused his extracurricular energies on music and vintage wines.
Pat sang in the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir, and the Bach and Orpheus Choirs, and became the Director for North America for the British Elgar Society in 2000. He played the piano beautifully to the end of his days.
He started a wine importing company, LCP Wines (Larry, Charlie, and Pat) with his friends Dr. Larry Burr and the late Charlie Harris. He and Barb enjoyed frequent trips to California, the British Isles, Europe, Russia, and Africa. Thanks to Barb’s hobby of genealogy, many extended family members in England and Scotland became good friends.
Pat was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He practised his Catholic faith by using his talents to help others. He enjoyed many happy hours with his grandchildren who loved him and teased him.
Pat is reunited with his beloved brother Michael, who predeceased him by 23 years.
We love you so much Dad and hope one day we will all be together again.
The family wishes to thank Doug McFeely and Clarke Housley for their friendship, and Dr. Allan Horii, Dr. Ken Poon and Barbara Flack for their kind and generous care during Dad’s illness.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Feb 5th, 2021 by invitation only. If you wish to join virtually, please contact the family at vancouverkinahan@gmail.com
Thank you!
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Covenant House or Union Gospel Mission in memory of Dr. Patrick J. Kinahan