Robert MACBETH

Robert Alexander (Bob) Macbeth
B.A., M.D., M.Sc, (Hon), RACS,
FRCSC
August 26, 1920 - June 17, 2014

A life well lived by a scholar and
a gentleman ended:
Bob was born in Edmonton,
Alberta, son of Dr. Alfred William
and Agnes (Lewis) Macbeth. He
was predeceased by his only
sister, Mary Ester Macbeth. He
received his primary and
secondary education in
Edmonton and his B.A. and M.D
from the University of Alberta. A
member of the accelerated
medical course introduced
during WWII, he served for two
years in the Royal Canadian
Army Medical Corps while in
university and two years on
active service in Canada. On
discharge he embarked on two
years training at McGill
University, in research with Dr
J.B. Collip and as a teaching
fellow in anatomy with Professor
C.P. Martin. This was followed by
four years of clinical surgical
residency training at McGill,
including one year spent in
London, England at the British
Postgraduate Medical School
Hammersmith Hospital,
supported by a Nuffield
Commonwealth Travelling
Fellowship. During his surgical
training he fell in love with and
married, on August 10, 1949,
Monique Elizabeth Filliol, a
French Huguenot nurse at the
Montreal General Hospital. It was
a love affair having lasted 65
years which would end with
Bob's death.
   Monique and Bob have four
daughters: Michele A. (Harold G)
Cliff, Nicole E. (David B.) Curtis,
Danielle M. Macbeth (John
Hawthorn) and Joanne L. (Paul
D.A.) Cameron. The Cliff's added
four grandchildren to the family:
Joanna M. (Laurie) Baker,
Lindsay G. (Devin) Graw,
Adrienne S. (Andrew) Plaza and
Robert H, (Amy Logan). The
Curtis' added two: Duncan M
and Meredith R., the Hawthorn's
one: Alexander F. and the
Cameron's two: Julia N. and
Daniel A.M. In addition, Monique
and Bob have seven great- grandchildren: Violet, Freddie
and Alice Baker, Carter and
Travis Graw, and Callum and Ellie
Cliff. It is a remarkably close and
supportive family group
Monique and Bob love and
admire their daughters, their
sons-in-law and their
grandchildren deeply and
unconditionally, a love that was
returned many fold
On completion of his surgical
training and success in the
surgical fellowship examinations
of the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of
Canada, Bob returned to
Edmonton and joined his father
in general surgical practice at the
Royal Alexandra Hospital. In
1953 he was appointed to the
teaching staff of the Department
of Surgery at the University of
Alberta. He excelled at teaching
and in 1957, was appointed a
full-time associated professor in
the Department, relocating his
practice to the University of
Alberta Hospital. In 1960 he was
promoted to professor and
chairman of the Department of
Surgery and director of Surgical
Services at the University
Hospital, positions in which he
served with distinction for fifteen
years. This challenging and
rewarding period in his
professional life included a
memorable year of sabbatical
leave. Accompanied by
Monique, Danielle and Joanne
he studied medical history at the
American School of Classical
Studies, Athens, Greece; cancer
research at the Pasteur Institute
in Paris, France; and visited
surgical centres in the United
Kingdom
In 1975, at age 55, he gave up
surgery to take a position at
Dalhousie University's medical
education program in Saint
John, New Brunswick. After 2
years, he was appointed chief
executive officer of the Canadian
Cancer Society and National
Cancer Institute of Canada in
Toronto, a position he held until
1985. This period included the
Society's sponsorship of Terry
Fox's Marathon of Hope, a
remarkable young man who Bob
admired greatly. Bob was
appointed as the executive
director of the Hannah Institute
for the History of Medicine in
Toronto, a position he held until
full retirement in 1991
In his multifaceted career as
surgeon, teacher, cancer
researcher, association executive
and historian of medicine he
published 85 scientific papers in
journals or as book chapters, and
authored a book on the history
of the Department of Surgery at
the University of Alberta
covering the first half century
(1922
1975). In addition, he
represented Canada with
distinction as a volunteer on the
international scene and made a
significant contribution the
Canadian organizations
representing his interests. As a
surgeon he served on the
Council of the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of
Canada and as a governor of the
American College of Surgeons
He was a member of the
American Surgical and
(American) Western Surgical
Association and a volunteer
office bearer of the James IV
Association of Surgeon and also
the International Surgical Group
He served as the Canadian
representative on the
Administrative Council of the
International Society for the
History of Medicine and was
extensively involved in L'Union
International Contre le Cancer as
a member of Council and
chairman of the Union's Adult
Education Program
Bob's many awards included the
Moshier Memorial Medal for
general proficiency and the
Outstanding Achievement
Award of the Medical Alumni
Association of his Alma Mater
He was the recipient of both the
James H. Graham Award of the
Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeon of Canada and the John
B. Neilson Award of Associated
Medical Services (Hannah
Institute of the History of
Medicine.)
His was a busy and demanding
life of service to his family and
the many causes he espoused, a
full life richly served and richly
rewarded
Cremation has already occurred
The family will celebrate Bob's
life at a future date. For those
who wish to make an in
memoriam gift in his name, the
family would appreciate
donations to the R.A. Macbeth
Library and Archives Fund of the
Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Canada, 774 Echo
Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5N8. The
family may be contacted
through
rememberingbobmacbeth@gm ail.com
The family wish to express their
sincere thanks to the caregivers
of the Red Cross and VON nurses
(CCAC) and the staff at
Hearthstone for the amazing
care given to Bob and the family
during his illness.