DIGGINS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-22 published
POYTON,
Herbert
Guy
(November 24, 1911-December 8, 2007)
Peacefully of natural causes in Toronto, on December 8, 2007,
two weeks after his 96th birthday, with his loving wife of 69 years,
Eunice, and family friend, Margaret by his side, Guy slipped
away from his remarkable life with us. Pre-deceased by his parents
Herbert and Ellen
(DIGGINS)
POYTON, and sister Margaret Poyton
HILL. In his immediate family, Guy is survived by his wife
Eunice
(CORNER)
POYTON in Toronto, sister Ellen
POYTON, brother and
sister-in-law Kenneth and Elsie
POYTON, and brother-in-law, Alfred
HILL in England. Mourning his loss also are nephews Stuart
CORNER,
Colin POYTON, nieces Alison
WHISKER and Ann
NUNN in England
Clare LAMB in Wales; Janet
HILL in U.S.A.; and Katie
HILL in
Australia, and their families. Guy will be sadly missed also
by Friends and colleagues in Canada and worldwide. Although his
ancestry is French Huguenot, Guy was born in Bethnall Green,
England. In his early teens, suffering at risk from the effects
of London smog, he enrolled as a boarder at Margate College on
the English coast where he recovered readily, excelled in academic
studies and earned distinction as a member of an invincible rugby
team. He remained a member of The Old Margatonian Association.
Throughout his life, until his early eighties, Guy participated
actively in many sports, such as sailing, swimming, running and
weightlifting, as a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club,
and as a Master Athlete in various events at Hart House, University
of Toronto. After leaving Margate College, Guy trained in dentistry
at Guy's Hospital, later joining his father's dental practice
in Hackney. During the 1930's, Guy's father had founded The Abbey
Street Sunday School for adults, so Guy and his siblings organized
and participated in sections for infants and older children with
a special emphasis on learning and singing hymns. Guy met and
married Eunice, and opened a dental surgery at Chalkwell-on-Sea,
near Southend, Essex. Keen to learn and to improve his practice,
Guy continued academic studies to obtain the Edinburgh University
Higher Dental Degree in 1972. During World War 2, as Major H.G.
POYTON in the British Army, he served in England and Holland.
Following the war, Guy obtained a position with the dental unit
of the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard in London, and later,
in 1948, at the leading dental hospital The Eastman Clinic in
London, England. Initially also, he was involved in establishing
an innovative program to train dental assistants, later called
hygienists. Further studies resulted in his developing and expanding
the use and techniques of radiology, specifically for complex
conditions of the teeth and jaw. Doctor
POYTON's pioneering achievements
in, and specialized knowledge of dental radiology resulted in
an invitation to lecture at University of London, and to teach
at and develop the radiology program in The Faculty of Dentistry,
University of Toronto. Doctor
POYTON was the first Full professor
of Oral Radiology in the Commonwealth and initiated the first
M.Sc. course in Oral Radiology in the world. A popular speaker
and admired teacher, and author of over 30 articles, Doctor
POYTON
lectured throughout Canada and U.S.A., and in United Kingdom
Australia, New Zealand and Bulgaria.
Always willing to assist students and colleagues, Doctor
POYTON
consulted on maxillofacial radiology matters in various hospitals,
to such journals as Scientific American and Journal of Science.
He was an adviser to the Medical Research Council, National Health
and Welfare (Canada), the Canadian Government Specifications
Board, National Health Research and Development Programs, and
the F.D.I. Commission on Dental Materials. He was an Honourary
Life Member and Founder President of The Canadian Academy of
Oral Radiology; Member, The Royal Society of Medicine, The Royal
College of Surgeons, Edin.; Life Member, Canadian Dental Association
Life Member and Founder Secretary, British Society of Oral and
Maxillofacial Radiology; and a Distinguished Life Member of the
American Academy of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology. In 1982,
Dr. POYTON published the first full and definitive book on the
subject, entitled Manual of Dental and Oral Radiology. Updated
with his colleague, M.J. Pharoah in 1989, it remains a definitive
text. Doctor
POYTON retired from his position as Associate Dean,
Administrative Affairs, Chairman and Professor of Oral Radiology
in The Faculty of Dentistry in 1978, but as Emeritus Professor,
maintained close ties with many colleagues and former students.
Foremost was his interest in ensuring that The Faculty of Dentistry
retain its international recognition for excellence. He encouraged
fraternal participation in world conferences, in developing professional
relationships with international colleagues and in sharing expertise
because he considered dental care and radiology services as an
essential part of total health care from infants to elderly.
In 2004, a donation by Guy and Eunice established The Poyton
Graduate Student Bursary in Oral Radiology at University of Toronto,
enabling The Faculty of Dentistry to expand its program in diagnostic
imagery and research. In December, 2000, Guy and Eunice moved
to a residential care centre. They have been blessed by new Friends
and attention from excellent medical staff and loving caregivers.
Guy will be greatly missed. He was charming, gentle, gracious,
and kindly, an excellent companion and friend, always interesting,
and wise. A man of renown, Guy never failed to express his appreciation
of others, his devotion to Eunice and his gratitude for his care.
At his request, there was no service. As promised, Guy's life
and achievements will be celebrated with dignity, sparing no
sentiment, but with gratitude for his life and Friendship, and
acknowledging the Poyton legacy, in Toronto, in Spring, at a
venue to be announced. The Poyton Family wish to thank all who
visited or assisted with Guy's care. We are very grateful to
all medical personnel, all staff at The Annex Residence, devoted
Friends Don, Ann and Robert Teskey, David and Joan Black, and
especially, Margaret Cameron.
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