Robert HUDSON

HUDSON, Dr. Robert William
Bob was born at Toronto's Wellesley Hospital, on 1941 July 28, the first son of William and Mary Hudson, née O'Brien, both of whom predeceased him. He died at Kingston General Hospital on Monday, 2013 July 08, after battling diabetes for 45 years, and end- stage renal disease for 12 years. He grew up in the quiet neighbourhood of Leaside, attending Bessborough Public School and Leaside High School, where he was elected President of the Student Council. He subsequently completed Pre-Meds and Medical School at the University of Toronto, graduating in the class of 6T6; he was elected class president for 1st year Pre-Meds. He interned, did residency training and research at Toronto General Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital, the Wellesley Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science and the University of Toronto. To complete his post-doctoral training, Bob practiced as the Registrar in Endocrinology, Medical Research Centre, Prince Henry's Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia for a year and a half. He obtained his FRCP(C) in 1973 and his Ph.D. in 1974, under the guidance of Dr. Don W. Killinger; his thesis was entitled "The in vitro biosynthesis of 11B-hydroxyandrostenedione by human adrenal homogenates." Upon returning from Australia, he started a private practice in Ottawa, and shortly thereafter, was offered a cross-appointment in Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa General Hospital. He moved to Kingston and Queen's University in 1983, at the behest of an admired colleague, Dr. Charles Bird, and eventually became full professor of Medicine; he had appointments at Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital. Bob's medical career, both in Ottawa and in Kingston, contained a large component of medical research, notably in the areas of male infertility, varicoceles, prostatic cancer, pituitary tumours, hirsutism, andropause, obesity and insulin resistance. He was awarded 39 research grants and he was author or co-author of 217 scientific papers, abstracts and presentations in the course of his career. He was supervisor or co- supervisor for five Endocrinology Training Residents in the combined Queen's/UO program, for five summer students and for twenty MSc/PhD students in the School of Physical & Health Education. He taught clinical skills, internal medicine and/or endocrinology to medical students, clinical clerks and residents. Bob was a long time consultant for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (formerly the Canadian Centre for Drug Free Sport) and was privileged to provide advice for numerous Olympic and other athletic events. Throughout the years, he was active in many sports, including basketball, hockey, football, baseball, golf and later tennis; growing up, he was also an active competitor in track and field events (short and medium distances), and with his parents, travelled throughout Ontario and Quebec for meets on behalf of Leaside High School and the Toronto Track and Field team. Bob is mourned by his devoted wife and soul mate, Nicole Florent, with whom he shared his life for thirty-three years. He leaves behind his loving children, Danielle Hudson Sullivan (Ken Sullivan), the late Lindsay Hudson, Graham Hudson and Nadine Legare Huddleston (Jeff Huddleston), and his adored grandchildren, Jordan, Holly, Ty and Hudson. Bob will also be missed by his O'Brien cousins, by Sharon Copley Hudson Moore, the mother of his children and by his brother, Roger Hudson. Bob loved his fellow students at Leaside High School, his classmates from Meds 6T6 and his former medical colleagues; he kept in touch with many across the world, and looked forward to renewing professional and personal bonds at each reunion or medical convention. Bob did not let hemodialysis stop him from travelling or attending medical seminars; he met new friends and health care professionals in more than twenty different units across Canada, the US and the high seas. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a related charity, such as the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, or the RW Hudson Endocrinology Memorial Award at the University of Toronto. Visitations will be held at the James Reid Funeral Home on Friday, July 19, from 1900 to 2100 hrs, and on Saturday, July 20, from 1230 to 1430 hrs. The service will be held following the latter visitation, at 1500 hrs. Reverend Nadene Grieve-Deslippe will officiate. Bob's ashes will be interred in the Cataraqui Cemetery at a later date.
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