Obituary of John Victor Tyberg, MD, PhD, FACC

May 4, 1938 - April 10, 2022
 

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr. John Tyberg on April 10, 2022 at the age of 83 following a brief illness. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Dr. Naomi Anderson, his dear daughter, Anna (Dr. Pieter de Tombe), grandsons Philip and Jack de Tombe, of whom he was very proud, and his brothers Rodney (Ruth) and James (Caryl) Tyberg.

John was born in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, and received his BA at Bethel College, St Paul, Minnesota, his MD and PhD in a combined MD/PhD program at the University of Minnesota. He also trained at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard University; the University of California, San Francisco; and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles. 

He joined the University of Calgary in 1981 as a Senior Clinical Investigator of the Alberta Heart Foundation. In 1983, he became a Heritage Medical Scientist of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. He was twice a Visiting Scientist, first at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, and later at St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London. He became Emeritus Professor of Cardiac Sciences and Physiology and Pharmacology, at the University of Calgary in 2011, but continued his usual research activity until it was disrupted by the pandemic. He was widely recognized internationally for his many contributions to understanding complex cardiovascular physiology.  

John was committed to his many graduate and post-graduate students and often followed them with pride through their careers after they moved on. His generosity was such that he welcomed many students, trainees, and colleagues from various local and external faculties into his laboratory to share ideas and to perform their studies in his lab. 
 
John had many outside interests.  These included history, music, architecture, and philosophy. His interest in the Stuart Kings led to his marriage to Naomi, whom he met in San Francisco where she was a research fellow at the University of California.  They had many remarkable trips together, initially by rail and later, on numerous ocean and river cruises, the longest being 105 days.  Both were especially intrigued with the “Far East” and visited Japan six times, as well as China, Australia, and New Zealand. They shared a particularly strong interest in classical music and opera with slightly different but complementary preferences for composers. Architecture was another passion, particularly medieval cathedrals. 

John was a true gentleman, a highly respected academic leader, and a dedicated educator and mentor to his students.  He was rewarded with strong, lasting friendships with so many colleagues, former students, and international collaborators, many of whom returned to attend two formal educational/scientific meetings that were held in his honor towards the end of his career.  

He was devoted to and adored by his wife, Naomi, and will be sadly missed by many. 

The family wishes to express their gratitude to all those who cared for him during his hospitalization, with special thanks to Drs. Patrick Champagne, Sarah Weeks, and Grant Peters as well as the nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Foothills Hospital. 

Grief is the price we pay for love. Grief will pass; love remains  (Queen Elizabeth II). 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, https://libin.ucalgary.ca/giving. 

In living memory of John Tyberg, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.