Dr. G. Bernard SKINNER

SKINNER, Dr. G. Bernard (Bernie),
of Kingston, Ontario, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 16, 2016, at the Lakeshore General Hospital, Montreal. Born on July 10, 1930, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Bernie was the second of four children born to the late Dr. George and Helen Skinner. He lived his childhood years sailing the waters of the Bay of Fundy and the Saint John River. He graduated from Saint John High School in 1946 and, at 16, went to McGill University to study the sciences. He graduated with a B.Sc. in 1950 and went on to study medicine at McGill. He received his his M.D. in May 1954 and, three days later, he married Mary (née Forster) in the Birks Chapel at McGill University, Montreal. They were married for 62 years. After completing a medical fellowship in Europe, Bernie began a long career in diagnostic and vascular radiology. He worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal from 1959-1967, spent two years at the Halifax General Hospital (1967-1969), and then returned to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he worked until 1981. His passion for sailing and living by the water then took him to the Kingston General Hospital, where he continued to work until he retired in 1990. Bernie was an active professor of medicine at both McGill and Queen's University. Aside from his work as a physician, Bernie was a talented man who lived a full and exciting life. He was passionate about sailing, skiing, woodworking, model yacht racing, and generally mucking around in boats. He loved to be on the water and on the snow, in the woods, or at the top of a mountain. He represented Canada in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, sailing in the 5.5 class, and was involved on the team and race committee at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. There was not a thing or a gadget that Bernie could not build, modify, or fix in his beloved 'work room.' His skill in furniture-making resulted in many beautiful pieces that grace the homes of family and friends, and continue to remind us of this wonderful man. Bernie was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His devotion to the care of his wife, Mary, after being diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's was his gift to her. Right up until he was no longer able to, he visited Mary every day in her nursing home. Bernie is survived by Mary and their three children, Geoffrey and his wife Belinda, of Lisbon, Portugal; Lesley and her husband Colin, of Winchester, England; and David and his wife Karen, of Pointe-Claire, Quebec. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Charlotte, James and Georgina Skinner, Isabelle Grant, and Samuel and Rowan Skinner, his sister DeeDee Aske (née Skinner), and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Bernie's close friends, who have been so loving and supportive over the years. A celebration of Bernie's life will be held at a future date, to be advised.