Obituary of John David Duffin

Our father John Duffin, MD FRCS died peacefully at his home near DeWinton, AB, on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at the age of 91 years. John was born in Toronto July 19, 1914, where he spent his childhood, he graduated in medicine from University of Toronto (Alpha Omega Alpha), and worked and taught at the Banting Institute. While at U of T, he met and married his beloved Lois Edith Phillips, our mother, who died in 2003. During the war years Dad served in Holland and Belgium as lieutenant and major with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, and participated in the liberation of Ghent, Belgium. After the war, Dad and Mum moved to Calgary, where Dad became Director of Laboratories at both the Holy Cross and Colonel Belcher hospitals, spent a period directing the Red Cross in Calgary, and established a large and successful medical laboratory practice. Dad moved the family to a farm south of Midnapore in 1956, where we all subsequently spent many happy years raising and showing Arabian horses including many champions and national champions. He will be remembered lovingly by son David and his wife Charlene, daughter Judy Ballard (Truro, NS), daughter Susan and son-in-law Tom Walter, son Tim and his wife Cathy, daughter Elizabeth Cooper (Ft. McMurray, AB), his brother Norman and sister-in-law Joan (Gig Harbor, Wash.) and his nineteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. We would like to express our love and appreciation to the caregivers who have tended Dad so well the last three years, most notably wonderful Emilia Cabanela. Dad has requested a private family service. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Salvation Army, 420 – 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0R9 Telephone: (403) 410-1111, www.salvationarmy.org. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com In living memory of John Duffin a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 Bannister Road S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.