George, predeceased by his wife Mary Rose and his brother Roy, will be greatly missed by his daughters Fiona (Paul C.) and Flora (Paul B.), cousins in Manitoba and in the U.K. and many friends and colleagues in the medical and academic field. A Funeral service will be held at 11 am, Monday, January 27th, 2020, at St. John’s Vancouver Anglican Church, 5350 Baillie Street (corner of Baillie and West 37th Ave.) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Canada, or to the BC Cancer Foundation.
George, the youngest son of Alexander and Adina (nee Kallman.), was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, later moving to Vancouver where George attended Lord Byng High School, returning in the summers to visit his relatives on their farms near Winnipeg.
George earned Chemistry and Medical Degrees at the University of British Columbia. It was during this time that his work as one of the summer researchers working for Professor Harold Copp contributed to the discovery of Calcitonin. George opted to complete his Medical Residency in London, England.
It was there that he met and married fellow medical resident Mary Rose Maw. The pair moved briefly back to Vancouver in time for the arrival of their first daughter, Fiona, before moving back to the UK where George began his lifelong career doing research and working with patients with CF and Celiac disease. The family welcomed their second daughter, Flora, and then spent an additional year working in Switzerland before returning to Vancouver where George began working for UBC at BC Children’s Hospital.
George would eventually become Director of the Biochemical Diseases Service, a position he found immensely rewarding as it meant working with a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists and other specialized professionals whose contributions he truly valued. Their work improved the lives of patients and their families, which was of utmost importance to him.
George was also dedicated to his family. He always made time to spend with his two daughters and was a constant support and advocate for his wife Mary after she was diagnosed with MS until her death in 2010. In 2015 when his brother Roy became ill, George helped him move from his home in Lake Cowichan to a care home in Vancouver where George faithfully visited until Roy’s death in April 2019.
George enjoyed travelling to the UK to visit his and Mary’s families, but he also enjoyed the travel and opportunity to collaborate with worldwide colleagues that came with roles in national and international health organizations. In these later years, he developed new interests. He renewed his active participation in church activities, which brought him new friendships and the pleasures of learning new things. His days were often spent amiably at his local coffee shop in the mornings, followed by puttering around his garden in the afternoons. George enjoyed one last trip to Winnipeg to visit family in June 2019.
George’s life took an unexpected turn in the summer of 2019 when he was diagnosed with a sarcoma. During his illness, he continued to demonstrate grace, fortitude and concern for others.
The family would like to thank long-time friends, former colleagues, church members and neighbours for their compassion during his illness. We would also like to thank the staff at BC Cancer, UBC’s CAMU and Crofton Manor.