Donald Edward LOW

Donald Edward Low May 02, 1945 - September 18, 2013
Born, raised and educated in Winnipeg, it was never Don Low's dream to be a doctor. His mother Florence wanted that for her son. As a compromise, Don tried veterinary school after university, but he was allergic to pretty much anything with hair and four legs, so medical school it was. He was turned down twice by the University of Manitoba before being accepted, and even then he was on the waiting list. Over the years, Don shared that story with high school and university students to illustrate that there's more to being a great physician than book smarts. Don's medical school classmates say the words 'party animal' didn't do him justice. There is a story, perhaps embellished, of Don waking up in his car in Lake Winnipeg with ducks swimming in his back seat. Don went on to become an influential microbiologist and will always be remembered by Canadians as The SARS doctor, a reassuring and capable presence during the Toronto outbreak in 2003.
Don had always admired the health reporting of a certain redheaded CBC reporter, especially during SARS. Eventually he and Maureen Taylor married and built an extended family that included their five children and two grandsons whom he adored. Don's son Kurt remembers the father who led him on foot to a 'secret lake' in eastern Manitoba where they caught 6 rainbow trout. Sean loved his Dad's childlike enthusiasm on their worldwide adventures, from the Sydney skywalk to the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios in Orlando. Stacey will continue to follow her father's passions: downhill skiing, running, mentoring and teaching students.
During a snowstorm on the evening of February 7, Don called Maureen to tell her he'd had a CT scan of his brain for hearing issues, and the diagnosis was probably a tumor. When the family gathered at the hospital that night, stunned and grief stricken, Don gathered them together in a hug, smiled that infectious smile, and told them he had lived a great life with no regrets. He was proud of his children, madly in love with his wife, and ready to accept his death. Don died at home in Maureen's arms, with everything palliative care has to offer, but death from a brain tumor is never peaceful. Don was not afraid to die but he was afraid of a prolonged period of being totally dependent on his family for his most basic needs. Sadly, Don found it impossible in Canada to avail himself of assistance to die with dignity. In lieu of flowers, donations to Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Research at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Please call 416-340-4430 or visit www.tgwhf.ca. And in tribute to Don, please advocate for the legalization of assisted dying in Canada. A memorial celebration is being planned.