KEITH G. DAWSON

(November 9, 1930 – August 14, 2025) Keith Dawson passed away peacefully, at the age of 94, leaving behind a life rich in service, friendship, and family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty (McGillis) Dawson; his children, Brian (Heather), Celia, and Chris (Libby); and his grandchildren, Nicola, Sarah, William, Andrew, Phoebe, Jack, Charlotte, and Catherine. Born in New York City in 1930, Keith devoted his professional life to the care of people living with diabetes. Educated at The Hotchkiss School, Princeton (AB), Columbia (MD) and McGill (PhD), he spent decades as a respected endocrinologist and professor at UBC. As a McLaughlin Scholar and recipient of an NIH Fellowship, he moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, in 1961. He served on the McGill Faculty until 1978, when he moved to Vancouver as Head of Medicine, Shaughnessy Hospital Keith devoted his professional life to caring for people living with diabetes, spending decades as a respected endocrinologist and professor at UBC. He gave many years of service to the Canadian Diabetes Association and was especially proud of his pioneering work supporting physicians in remote First Nations communities, a commitment he continued until the age of 90. In recognition of his contributions, Keith received the Gerald S. Wong Award and the Prime Minister's Distinguished Service Award for his work with First Nations communities. Beyond medicine, Keith's heart belonged to Magog, Quebec, and the Hermitage Club where he and Betty built lifelong friendships. Friends and family will remember not only his dedication, but also his quick wit and, at times, his fiery spirit, whether in lively conversation or on the tennis court. He delighted in life's simple pleasures: the company of friends, the camaraderie of a doubles match, and, most famously, his trusty 1978 VW Rabbit, which he kept running for nearly 50 years. Keith will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather; a physician who never stopped caring for patients, and a friend whose warmth, humour, and passion left a lasting mark. The family wishes to thank Dad's friend and trusted physician, Dr. Monte Glanzberg, and the team at the VGH Cardiac ICU. A Celebration of Life will be held in Vancouver this fall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Diabetes Canada at www.diabetes.ca.