Obituary of Robert Clifton Westbury

Dr. Robert Clifton Westbury died peacefully at home on Friday, June 4, 2004 at the age of 68 years, after a long illness faced with dignity and good humour. He is survived by his loving wife Clare; four sons and their wives, Tim and Mary Anne, Chris and Elena, Jamie and Pamela, and Eric and Julie; and six grandchildren of whom he was so proud, Grace, Jasper and Finnian of Bragg Creek, AB, Nicholas and Zoe of Edmonton, AB, and Ethan of Vancouver, BC. Robert is also survived by a brother, Donald and his wife Robena; three nephews, and a niece, all of England. Robert was born in London and educated at Westminster School, Peterhouse, Cambridge and Guy’s Hospital, London. He came to Calgary with his wife and eldest son in 1962, and interned at the Holy Cross Hospital. He joined the Cambrian Clinic in 1963 and worked there until his retirement in 1991. As a family physician Robert was widely recognized for his interest in research and teaching. He was a member of the National and Alberta Research Committees and was chairman of the Library Services Committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and was instrumental in the foundation of the Canadian Library of Family Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in London, ON. He was also chairman of the international classification committee which standardized the classification of disease world-wide. Robert was a part-time associate professor of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary and won several awards for his published papers. He was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal in 1977 and was named Family Physician of the Year by the Alberta Chapter of the College of Family Physicians in 1986. He was granted a Doctor of Medicine degree by Cambridge University after writing a thesis in 1979 on the effect of medicare on his practice. After his retirement, Robert had more time for his hobbies of family history and bookbinding. He was an active member of the Alberta Family Histories Society until his illness, and was also a member of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild. Funeral Services will be held at Holy Cross Anglican Church (2828 – 19th Street N.W.) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. with the Rev. Brian D. Way officiating. It was Robert’s wish that his cremated remains be interred in the family vault at Tonge Cemetery in Bolton, Lancashire, England. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: (403) 944-2433. Please designate donations to Melanoma Research. Donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 1825 Park Road S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 3Y6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca, would also be appreciated by the family. In living memory of Robert Westbury, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 241-0044.