ELIZABETH MARY RICHARDS

ELIZABETH MARY RICHARDS NOVEMBER 27, 1914 - SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 Elizabeth Mary Richards was born in London, England, November 27, 1914, and died in Vancouver on September 8, 2003. She was born into a family active in British public life. Her mother was a suffragette and the first female school inspector in London. Her father served in the British War Office, and was awarded an OBE for his service during World War II. Her brother, a law professor at the University of Edinburgh, helped negotiate Britain's entry into the European Common Market. Elizabeth completed medical training with the London School of Medicine at the Royal Free Hospital in 1939, and then served in the British army medical corps. Unknown to her at the time, many of her wartime patients were part of the Ultra Project deciphering the German Enigma Code. In 1943 she married Guy Richards, also a physician, and doctored in Cambridge before moving to Canada in 1948. They lived and practised in Saskatoon for much of the following four decades. Elizabeth was among the first female family doctors in the Canadian prairies. She was affectionately known as 'Dr. Liz', someone who was a sympathetic listener, generous with her time, tireless and consistent in her efforts to help her patients, staying connected with many of them beyond their need for medical care. Saskatchewan was the first Canadian province to launch a universal medical care program. Its introduction was intensely controversial and most physicians initially refused to practise under 'socialized medicine.' Elizabeth and Guy Richards were part of the small group of doctors who publicly supported medicare and, breaking with their colleagues, continued to practise throughout the doctors' strike in the politically charged summer of 1962. In 1968, Elizabeth accepted an invitation to revitalize the University of Saskatchewan Student Health Centre. In her 15 years as director, she developed a model clinic suited to the times and the needs of students. She had a wide view of what constituted medical practice, assisting students to overcome diverse problems, in many cases influencing their career directions. Elizabeth loved literature, especially historical novels by writers such as Thomas Hardy. She had a flare with language, often using old English expressions. She was also a good cook. Her specialty was a Christmas cake based on an old Victorian recipe. In 1987, Elizabeth moved with Guy to Vancouver. 'Dr. Liz' was a proud and loving mother and grandmother, a good friend to many, and a generous and active community member. As one of the original multi-taskers, she accom- plished a lot. Predeceased by her brother John Mitchell and her daughter-in-law Kathleen Richards, she is survived by her husband and sons John, Simon and Guy and their families. Memorial gifts in support of the University of Saskatchewan Student Health Centre can be sent to the Dr. Elizabeth Richards Memorial, University Advancement, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Room 238, Kirk Hall, Saskatoon SK, S7N 5C8.