DR. JOHN EARL WYNANDS

On Friday, November 14, 2025, John Earl Wynands, OC, MD, passed away at the age of 95. Earl was born on December 10, 1929, in Montreal, Quebec. He attended Loyola High School and Loyola College, treasuring the education and development he received there. Starting at the age of 12, he spent more than 10 years working at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. Under the direction of Head Pro Kenneth Murray, he became an assistant Golf Professional. But his passion led him to medicine, and he graduated as an MD from McGill in 1954. He made the decision to specialize in Anaesthesiology, launching a career that spanned over 40 years. He was a pioneer in the development of anesthesiology for cardiac surgery at McGill University and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. He was a founding member of the Association of Cardiac Anesthesiologist's and was President of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) as well as the Canadian Anesthesiologist's Society (CAS). His research on cardiac anesthesia led to an extensive list of publications and acclaim as a practitioner, researcher and teacher. He received worldwide recognition, including Officer of the Order of Canada, Canadian Anesthesiologist's Society Gold Medal, SCA Distinguished Service Award and many others. In 1988, he relocated to Ottawa, assuming the position of Anesthesia Department Chair at the University of Ottawa and Chief of Anaesthesia at the U of O Heart Institute and Civic Hospital. He retired from clinical practice in 1996. But he considered the establishment of the University of Ottawa Patient Care Simulation Centre his greatest professional achievement. Earl met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Grant, at a high school dance when they were 16 and were inseparable for 72 years. They were married at age 24 upon his graduation from medical school and together raised six children: four sons, John (Linda), Grant (Heather), Bob (Maryse) and Paul (Nancy); and two daughters, Mary Jane (John) and Nancy (Basil). Earl was a loving and devoted husband and father. He loved to spend his time away from work with his family at their farm. Between the apple orchards, bee hives, the sugar bush, maintaining the property or stock piling firewood, he was always happily engaged in one task or another. Earl had the special ability to make connections with people of all ages and all walks of life. He had a way of putting people at ease with genuine curiosity and caring. He was a man of deep faith with an unwavering devotion to his family. Earl was predeceased by his father, Jack; mother, Mary Jane; sister, Ruth; and brother, Ross. He is survived by his six children, 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, (at O'Connor), Ottawa, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 5–8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Parish, 174 Wilbrod Street, Ottawa, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. Reception to follow at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, (at O'Connor) Ottawa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation - J. Earl Wynands Associate Chair in Cardiac Anesthesia Research. Condolences/Tributes/Donations Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-233-1143