Dr. John Herald "Jack" WHITESIDE

Dr. John "Jack" Herald Whiteside
M.D., M.S.E. (Path.) M.R. C.P
(Path.)1917 - 2013

Jack passed away peacefully at Princess Gardens Retirement Residence in Peterborough on June 15, 2013. He was in his 97th year.

He was predeceased by his parents William Garrison I and Lilla Charlotte (Herald) of Toronto and his loving wife of 60 years, Helen McClain (Scott). He is survived by his brother William Garrison II; his children John, David and his wife Danielle, Joan (Ball) and her husband Mike Humeniuk and Meg (Seabrook) and her husband Scott; his grandchildren Jennifer, Ian, Kathleen, Tara, Tyler, Jesse, Josh and Jack and his great- grandchildren Alex, Naomi, Bryce and Charlotte.

Jack was born on June 12, 1917 in St. Thomas, Ontario. He attended Westdale High School in Hamilton and graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine in 1942. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy as surgeon-lieutenant in 1943 serving on the frigate, HMCS Monnow. He served as the doctor to an escort group for eighteen months in the North Atlantic.

Immediately after the war, he did further medical training and received a degree in Pathology from McGill University.

Jack moved his family to Peterborough in 1951 where he was appointed pathologist and Director of Laboratories at Peterborough Civic Hospital, as well as St. Joseph's Hospital and consultant pathologist at hospitals in Campbellford, Cobourg, Port Hope and Lindsay. He contributed significantly to the Peterborough Civic Hospital, helped found the Laboratory Technician Training Program, was instrumental in starting the Hospital Medical Records Institute (HMRI) for Ontario and wrote the first set of hospital by- laws in Ontario watching, over the years, as this prototype was adopted by a majority of hospitals in North America. Jack was a Life Member of The Ontario Medical Association and an Honorary Member of the Canadian Medical Association.

In his spare time, Jack assisted numerous community groups both as a volunteer and fundraising participant (National Ballet of Canada, the Peterborough Symphony, the Peterborough YMCA, and the Canadian Power Squadron to name a few). Jack and Helen were members of the congregation of Murray Street Baptist Church for more than 50 years.

He attended the Stratford Festival each year as well as many local community theatre performances.

Outdoor enthusiast, environmentalist and after his retirement, world traveler, Jack also enjoyed time at the cottage in Muskoka, skiing at the Bethany Ski Club and yearly bird watching trips to Point Pelee, as well as sailing on Georgian Bay with friends and family.

Jack was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great- grand father, colleague and friend to many and he will be sorely missed by all who have had the good fortune to know him.

We offer a heartfelt thanks to Dr. R. J. Whatley and the staff of Princess Gardens for the excellent care and kindness that Jack received during his stay.

The family will receive friends on Friday, June 21 at Comstock Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 356 Rubidge St., Peterborough, ON, from 11:30 to 1:00 PM, followed by a celebration of Jack's life at 1:00 PM in the Comstock Chapel. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Nature Conservancy of Canada www.natureconservancy.ca. Online condolences may be made at www.comstockfuneralhome.com