Dr. Ivor Williams

WILLIAMS, Dr. Ivor April 14, 1927-April 20, 2017 Dr. Ivor Howell Williams M.B., B.Chir (Cantab), FRCPC. Born in London, England, Ivor attended Wellington College and continued his education at Trinity Hall College, Cambridge, graduating in Medicine in 1951. After serving as a medical officer in the RAF (90 parachute jumps), he emigrated to Canada in 1953, followed by his young family the next year. Ivor specialized in pediatric anaesthesia, having taken advanced studies at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, England in the early 1960s. During his career he practiced medicine in Victoria, Saltspring Island and the Gulf Islands, Vancouver and Nanaimo/Ladysmith. From the mid-1970s Ivor lived in Morelia, Mexico, returning to Victoria in 1988. He died at home, a few days after his 90th birthday, surrounded by some of his far-flung family. For most of the past three decades Ivor has stimulated and enriched his intellect by auditing at the University of Victoria, taking mostly (and seemingly most!) courses in the Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies there. For many years he was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Ivor was deeply motivated to help those who are most in need. For more than ten years he was an active volunteer at the Civil Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. For seven years until late 2015 when his health declined, he was an active and committed member of the John Howard Society in Victoria. A fluent Spanish speaker, he also raised funds for a childhood centre in Cajica, near Bogota, Colombia, which he was thrilled to visit a few years ago, making many friends both young and older. Ivor is survived by his wife Anne and younger sister Patricia and nieces in Victoria; his brother Michael (Mila) and others in England; by son Simon, (Kim), daughters Alison (Steven) and Margaret-Ann (Don). In Mexico, Ivor is survived by Celia and daughter Christel (Leonardo). He also leaves behind grandchildren and two great-grandsons. A special thank you to the nurses of Victoria Hospice and in particular the Palliative Response Team. If so desired, in lieu of flowers memorial donations to Victoria Hospice would be greatly appreciated by the family. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, May 1, at 1pm, Holy Cross Catholic Parish Church, 4049 Gordon Head Road.