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Patrick L. MCGEER

1927 - 2022

Patrick L. MCGEER obituary, 1927-2022, Vancouver, ON

BORN

1927

DIED

2022

FUNERAL HOME

Walkey & Company Funeral Directors Ltd.

235 Commercial Drive

Vancouver, British Columbia

Patrick MCGEER Obituary

PATRICK L. McGEER On August 29, 2022, a storybook life that began June 29, 1927, came to an end. Pat McGeer died peacefully at home surrounded by family and devoted friends. Pat was born in Vancouver to James McGeer, a judge, and Ada (Schwengers) McGeer, one of McGill University's first female graduates and producers for CBC Radio. In his early years he was fascinated by chemistry, conducting home experiments on explosives - the local pharmacist had a list of items that Pat and his elder brother Peter were not permitted to buy. Pat studied chemistry more formally at UBC while playing basketball for the Thunderbirds. The team's most famous exploit was a cliffhanger defeat of the Harlem Globetrotters, then the most fabled team in the world. Pat was UBC's all-time leading scorer and represented Canada on the 1948 Olympic team. Turning down an offer from the just-formed NBA's Philadelphia Warriors, he went on to earn his PhD at Princeton in 1951 with a thesis that pointed out how radio waves could be used to heat food. Next came a job at DuPont's Experimental Research Station in Wilmington, Delaware where he met fellow research chemist, Dr. Edith Graef, courting her (on a wing and a prayer) with flights in his diminutive Aeronca Champ. They married in April 1954 and moved to Vancouver, where Pat obtained his medical degree from UBC. Edie meanwhile volunteered as assistant in Dr. Bill Gibson's fledgling neurochemistry lab at UBC. Over dinner she fascinated Pat with stories from the lab, and so after graduation they joined forces, initiating a scientific partnership that would last over 60 years. Attracting international attention and acclaim, they collaborated on 3 books and more than 1000 research papers documenting discoveries that would lay the foundations for groundbreaking treatments of diseases ranging from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's. Yet they had time for fun and family too. Their recycled BC forestry boat was often on Howe Sound, with Pat in the bilge tending the recalcitrant diesel engine. After one breakdown too many, it was retired in favour of cottage life (first on Bowen Island, then on Skaha Lake) and other recreational activities: travel, skiing, boating in a speedier runabout (with trusted friend and mechanic, Joe Mizsak, at his side), and (best of all) tennis on Pat's pride and joy, a back-yard lawn tennis court that soon became the centre for a burgeoning community of Wimbledon West players. Pat's political career began with a landslide byelection in Point Grey in 1962, the first of 9 campaigns. In 1966, he recruited his college friend Garde Gardom to run with him in the then 2-member seat. They were a dynamic duo, first as opposition Liberals, and then on the government bench having joined forces with Social Credit in 1975. As Minister of Universities, Sciences and Technology, he began North America's first open university (Knowledge Network), sponsored an engineering program at Simon Fraser University and University of Victoria, encouraged BC's nascent tech industry with the Discovery Foundation, spurred a natural-gas vehicle industry in response to the oil crisis of the seventies, collaborated with the Health Ministry to build a teaching hospital at UBC, and proposed a fixed link to Vancouver Island. The best description of his role came from a Province columnist:

The Minister of Magic, the Minister of Fun
The Minister of everything, but make the province run

There was magic and certainly fun. What made those years special was the joy and light heart Garde and Pat brought to politics. When Pat was wrongly accused of assaulting a photographer (who had fallen while walking backwards) Garde dressed Pat in boxing gloves, shorts, and a robe and introduced him to the House as the "undefeated champion, Kid Video!". And whenever Pat saw an editorial cartoon lampooning him, he got an autographed original from the cartoonist and proudly displayed it. When politics was over, Pat returned to the lab full-time with his trademark zest. The discoveries came thick and fast, including the link between Alzheimer's and neuro-inflammation. This scientific discovery was among the reasons he and Edie were appointed to the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. Patrick L. McGeer, PhD, MD, FAAAS, FRSC, FRCP(C), OBC, OC, is survived by his wife of 68 years, Edie; children Rick (Karen), Tad, and Tori (Philip); longtime family friend Jane Burnes; and grandchildren Rory, Owen (Molly), Sean (Alex), Kailee, Liam, and Simone. For their continuing support, the family would like to thank our extended family, the Eastern McGeers, the Graef family, Eileen McNally, and Bonnie Lambert; the faithful Wimbledon West Tennis Club; our lovely team of caregivers (Loraine, John, Tess, Iona, Cindy, Helena, and Amor) and Caring Shepherd; Dr. Max and Karen MacDonald; Mike Hamel and all the crew at Topline; Sheila Greenwood; and especially our dear friend, Margaret Druhan, who has kept us going through thick and thin. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 24th at 2:00 p.m., in Saint Mary's Anglican Church, Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver. A reception will follow at the McGeer home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a Charity of Your Choice. Walkey & Company Funeral Directors 604 738-0006

Published by The Globe and Mail from Sep. 10 to Sep. 14, 2022.

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Memories and Condolences
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5 Entries

Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your loved one. I will remember Dr.McGeer fondly during the McGeer lab. Sincerely Aiqin Zhu

Aiqin Zhu

Work

September 23, 2022

My condolences to Edie and the family. I have fond many memories of my time in the McGeer lab. Sincerely, Zhou Wu

Zhou Wu

Work

September 22, 2022

Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your loved one. My time in the McGeer lab. was the summer of my life.
From Japan with deepest sympathy,
Sadayuki Hashioka

Sadayuki Hashioka

Work

September 22, 2022

Our sincerest condolences. We will remember Dr.McGeer
fondly. Wayne and Susie Moore

Wayne and Susie Moore

Work

September 14, 2022

My condolences to Edie and the family. I have fond memories of my time in the McGeer lab. Sincerely, Tom Beach.

Tom Beach

Work

September 12, 2022

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Memorial Events
for Patrick MCGEER

Sep

24

Memorial service

2:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's Anglican Church

Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Funeral services provided by:

Walkey & Company Funeral Directors Ltd.

235 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 4X1