Dr. Sam Landa

LANDA -Dr. Sam, C.M., M.D., O.C. passed away early on the morning of June 15, 2006, at Saskatoon City Hospital. It is fitting that he died there since he practised there for more than 56 years in a life devoted to medicine and the well-being of his fellow citizens. Sam was born in Saskatoon on New Year's Eve, 1913. His parents, Faige and William Landa were pioneers who came from Russia to the great Northwest as it was in 1903, two years before Saskatchewan became a province. Sam was the youngest brother of an energetic and talented family and is the last of his six siblings (Rose, Harry, Ida, Eastwood, Paul and Bela) to pass away. He was educated at Princess Alexandra public school, Bedford Road Collegiate and was awarded his B.Sc. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1935, where he played football for the Huskies, and his M.D. from University of Manitoba in 1938. He practised medicine with his brother Eastwood in Saskatoon, but after his marriage in 1940 to Petty Davidner, he joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served overseas during WWII in London and Naples, Italy. At war's end, he returned to Saskatoon and set up a practice, earning privileges as a general surgeon as well as a physician. He enjoyed partnerships with Drs. Gladys Barry, Noel Doig and Joe Golumbia. In 1947 he helped found the Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club and served as team physician for 40 years. He retired from medicine at 82. He was also a life member of Riverside Golf and Country Club, a fearsome racketball player at the YMCA and a lifelong member of Rotary Club. He was instrumental in many momentous political and social events. He organized the provision of emergency medical services across the province during the Medicare crisis of 1962. He helped turn Saskatoon into the fitness capital of Canada through his efforts with ParticipAction. He matched Umeo, Sweden and Utaru, Japan to Saskatoon in friendly competition to motivate Canadians to get fit. He was a founding member of the Canadian Academy of Sports Sciences, Chief Medical Officer of the Canada Winter Games of 1971, physician to the Canadian Olympic Team in 1972. He attended athletes at the Munich Games and was a witness to the terrorist action during which 11 Israeli athletes were murdered. For his many efforts in building his community he was honoured by B'nai Brith, Saskatoon Kinsman Club and the University of Saskatchewan Medical College. He was awarded membership in the Order of Canada in 1976, inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, named Saskatoon Citizen of the Year in 1995, given an Award of Merit from Saskatoon City Hospital, as well as The Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and the Rotary International Fifty Year Service Award in 2005. He worked at all three hospitals in Saskatoon but his great love was Saskatoon City Hospital whose staff provided him such wonderful care in the last few years of his life, which is so much appreciated by his family and friends as is the attentive home care provided by Dolan's. Sam is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Petty; his daughter Kahrellah Landa; his daughter Elaine Dewar and son-in-law Stephen; his son Murray Landa and daughter-in-law Lesley; as well as his grandchildren, Samantha, Jaime and Alexander Landa and Anna and Danielle Dewar; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Jean and Herschel Davidner and Rhoda and Albert Broudy; and numerous nieces, nephews and grandnieces and nephews across Canada, the U.S. and Israel. Funeral organized by Saskatoon Funeral Home Sunday, June 18, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Agudath Israel Synagogue at 715 McKinnon.