Dr. Eric L. Smith

SMITH _ Dr. Eric L. M.D., C.M., F.R.C.S.(C) Ophthalmic Surgeon (1919-2006) Peacefully and unexpectedly on December 4th, 2006, Eric died in the presence of his family at Vancouver General Hospital, where he had served as Ophthalmic surgeon for more than 40 years. He will be remembered and missed as a man of action, integrity, and humour - and as a loving husband to Shelagh; devoted father to Eric (Trish), Stuart (Kim), Kathleen, (Brian Outerbridge) and Brock (Claudia); beloved Poppa to James, Kevin, Stephen, Erin, Alison, Nathan, Karen, Laura, Ford, and Reed; big brother to Lorna; brother-in-law to John (Joyce) Wheeler, Elida (Brian) Harris, and William (Eileen) Wheeler; and as Uncle Eric to their children, and to the children of close family friends. Born in Vancouver to parents Lawrence and Louisa, Eric graduated from Lord Byng high school and earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from UBC. As a Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces, Eric used his engineering skills in WWII. Following the war Eric studied medicine at McGill University, completing a specialization in Ophthalmology with residency work at the Montreal General where he met and married Shelagh Wheeler. After completing a senior residency in Manhattan, Eric returned to Vancouver in 1953 to pioneer the use of operating microscopes and new techniques in corneal transplant surgery. As a Professor at UBC, Eric was teacher and mentor to many medical students and Ophthalmology residents at VGH, who learned from him not only skills and techniques, but also the importance of truly caring about, and for, patients. It was the long term relationships with his patients that gave Eric his greatest professional joy. An avid outdoors man, scouter, fly-fisher, skier, boater, and woodworker, Eric sought and created adventures for his family and friends which will long be remembered. His family is comforted by the thought that he is now on the greatest of adventures. Eric, Dad, Poppa, Uncle Eric, Dr. Smith: you will be missed. A memorial service will be held at St. Helen's Anglican Church (8th Ave and Trimble St.) in Vancouver, at 3 pm, Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Eric can be made to the Eric L. Smith M.D. Prize in Ophthalmology - UBC Development Office, 500-5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 - or online at www.supporting.ubc.ca/givingoptions/donatenow.html His family has developed a memorial website for Eric at www3.telus.net/EricLSmith