Dr. Robert STEELE

DR. ROBERT STEELE 93, of Kingston, ON, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Bob leaves behind his beloved wife of 67 years, Letitia, and two sons, Paul (Jane) and David (Tara). Bob and Letty's middle son, Alaistair, died in infancy. Grandsons Duncan and Richard thought the world of Peepa, and will miss his stories, his curiosity, and his sense of humour.

Bob was born in West Calder, Scotland, close to an excellent public library (funded by Andrew Carnegie) and a challenging heathland golf course – two locations that would have a lifelong impact on him. Bob was an excellent student, as avid readers usually are, and won a scholarship on leaving high school to study medicine at the prestigious School of Medicine, of the Royal Colleges, Edinburgh (the University of Edinburgh Medical School). Bob graduated as a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1952 and completed a Diploma in Public Health in 1956, also from Edinburgh University. Bob did post-graduate training in various locations in Great Britain, including the General Hospital in South Shields, England, the City Hospital, Edinburgh, and as an officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps at Connaught Military Hospital, Surrey, England. In 1952, Bob met Letty at a party held by a mutual friend. They married in 1955 and emigrated to Canada several years after, where Bob initially worked at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine.

In 1968 Bob joined the Faculty of Medicine at Queen's University where he served as Professor, Department of Family Medicine, and Professor and Head, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. Bob had a distinguished career as an epidemiologist publishing in diverse fields including accidental injuries, delivery of health services, environmental issues, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Bob was a Fellow of the American Public Health Association, the Royal College of Physicians, UK, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Edinburgh, and the American College of Epidemiology.

Bob retired from Queen's University as Professor Emeritus in 1996. His retirement from academic medicine did not end his career in medicine, however. After Queen's, Bob began to practise as a Physician Psychotherapist at a clinic in Toronto, which also gave him an excuse to visit his grandsons frequently. Bob found this new practice fascinating and he was deeply committed to his patients. He retired finally and fully at age 79. Bob travelled throughout his career, to Egypt, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand and India, but India held a special place in his heart and he returned there many times. Cooking in the Tandoor oven he brought back from India was a favourite pastime in his retirement.

Bob also loved to play golf, a passion he shared with David and with his nephew Tim. He would regularly sneak in nine holes early in the morning before his workday began. He remained an avid reader his whole life and enjoyed listening to opera. We will all miss his sharp wit and his gentle soul. Bob's family would especially like to thank Marlene Larsen, who arrived six years ago to make dinner and stayed by Bob's side every day to help with anything and everything; and Joanne Huismann who could get Bob to chuckle even on his rare bad days. We are indebted to Aggie Haydock and the remarkably kind and caring staff from Heart2Heart who allowed Bob to stay at home safely and with dignity for the last few years.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held in the spring. In Bob's memory, please consider a donation to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. Funeral arrangements care of James Reid Funeral Home.