SIGEL o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-01 published
O'HEARN /
SIGEL
Shannon and Derek are pleased to announce the birth of their
son, Walter Owen Sigel, on Thursday, August 16, 2007, a brother
for Abby, Henry and Norah. Happy grandparents are Mark and Anne
O'HEARN and Michael and Deenna
SIGEL.
Great-grandmother
Rose
KAUFMAN is also thrilled with the newest addition to the family.
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SIGOUIN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-12 published
NOONAN,
Brian
Francis
Suddenly at his residence at Christie Lake on Saturday June 9th,
2007, Brian F.
NOONAN
(Honorary
Colonel of the former Lanark
and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, member of the Knights of the Holy
Sepulchre, Fourth Degree Knight, Knights of Columbus, financial
specialist for over 50 years).
son of the late Doctor John Francis
and Ann NOONAN of Perth, beloved husband for 53 years to Patricia
(O'NEILL)
NOONAN; loved and respected father of Sally, Colleen
(Bruce EWING), Richard (Tracy
DEGROOT), Fred, Julia (Grady
SAVAGE)
and the late John. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren
Simon, Riley, Madelaine, Mitchell, Declan and Ronan and his sister
Dorothy SIGOUIN.
Friends may pay their respects at the Blair and
son Funeral Home, 15 Gore St. W., Perth Monday June 11th, 2007
from 2 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
in Saint_Johns Church, Perth Tuesday at 11: 00 a.m. Interment, Saint_John's
Cemetery. In remembrance, contributions to the Foundation of
the Great War Memorial Hospital, 33 Drummond St. W., Perth K7H 2K1
or Saint_Johns Church Memorial Fund would be appreciated.
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SIGURDSON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-29 published
SIGURDSON,
Katherine
Lenore
After many years trying to heal herself, Kate died on Tuesday,
June 26, 2007. We thank profoundly all the people who helped
us while she was ill. To honor them and Kate, we commit to circulating
the generosity we received so that others may also benefit from
it. A funeral service will be held at the First Unitarian Congregation
of Toronto, 175 St. Clair Avenue West, on Saturday, June 30,
2007 at 11 a.m. Reception and burial to follow. In lieu of flowers
please wear bright colours to the service and consider making
donations to Raising Readers www.raisingreaders.ca. Arrangements
in the care of Sherrin Funeral Home, 416-698-2861. The family
invites Friends and relatives to sign Kate's Book of Condolence
at www.sherrin-funeral.ca.
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SIGURDSON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-29 published
LITTLE,
Bruce
Wilson
Peacefully and surrounded by family in Ottawa on Thursday, September 27th,
2007 at age 76. Adored by his companion, best friend and loving
wife Jane, daughters Susan (Assem
SAID,)
Mary
(Michel
PICHÉ,)
Martha (Michael
AGNEW,)
Sarah
(Douglas
MacMILLAN,) Beth (David
ARNOLD,) and son Elliott (Shelley
POWERS.)
Loving grandchildren
Sarah, Tarek, Philippe, Laura, Eric, Julia, Taylor, Caroline,
Elizabeth, William, Matthew, Christopher, Jennifer, Andrew, Charlie.
Loving brother to Mary
SIGURDSON,
John, and Janet
FINLAY. Predeceased
by his sister Sheila
MOFFITT
Bruce led a happy, full life surrounded
by many loyal Friends and adoring family, doing the things that
he loved. His generosity, kindness and compassion will be remembered
and carried on for generations. A Memorial Service will be held
at St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, 125 MacKay Street on Tuesday,
October 2, 2007 at 2 p.m. Condolences/donations: mcgarryfamily.ca
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SIGURDSON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-22 published
BERGSAGEL,
Daniel
Egil, CM, MD, D.Phil
(April 25, 1925-October 20, 2007)
Passed away peacefully at Mount Sinai Hospital after a brief
illness. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Joyce (née
SIGURDSON)
brother John, sister Marion
TWYMAN; daughter Karin; sons Paul,
John, Leif; grandchildren Bram and Ben
ISGUR, Parker, Davis,
Caroline, Matteo, and Marco. Danny attended Outlook College and
Camrose Lutheran College before obtaining his medical degree
from the University of Manitoba. After pursuing training in internal
medicine and hematology under Doctor Max Wintrobe at the University
of Utah, he completed his D.Phil at Oxford University. He began
his career in hematology at the M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston,
becoming a pioneer in medical oncology, and world renowned for
developing the first effective treatment for multiple myeloma.
He was physician-in-chief at the Princess Margaret Hospital from
1964 to 1991. He remained active in myeloma research even in
retirement. He was an Emeritus Professor of the University of
Toronto and Member of the Order of Canada. He loved his work
but was also a 'bon vivant' and equally loved to entertain, sing,
travel and visit family and Friends. A funeral service will be
held at Saint Ansgar Lutheran Church, 1498 Avenue Road, North
York on Wednesday, October 24 at 2: 00 p.m. Reception to follow
at home. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Princess
Margaret Hospital Foundation. Images of his life can be seen,
and notes and comments shared at www.daniel_bergsagel.legacy.com
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SIGURDSON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-11 published
He set the standard for myeloma research
Saskatchewan-born cancer pioneer and bon vivant was celebrated
for his knowledge, grace and fairness
By Alicia PRIEST,
Special to The Globe and Mail, Page S8
Victoria -- A pioneer in cancer research who set the standard
of treatment for an uncommon but incurable form of blood cancer
for some 40 years, Daniel
BERGSAGEL was also a bon vivant and
a family man at a time when the world allowed dedicated scientists
to have a life apart from work.
Multiple myeloma, which is found when bone marrow produces large
quantities of abnormal plasma cells, is the second-most prevalent
blood cancer, representing about 1 per cent of all cancers and
2 per cent of all cancer deaths. Doctor
BERGSAGEL's contribution
to treating it was in developing the use of a drug called mephalan
- the first effective treatment for myeloma patients at a time
when the only other medicinal option was urethane, a toxic paint
thinner that has since been withdrawn from pharmaceutical use.
Celebrated for his knowledge, grace and fairness, Doctor
BERGSAGEL
was inspired and taught by Doctor Max Wintrobe, a Canadian hematologist
who worked in the United States and, significantly, was part
of the team that first established the use of chemotherapy. Later,
as chief of medicine at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital
for 26 years, Doctor
BERGSAGEL trained a generation of Canadian
oncologists who went on to train later generations of cancer
warriors.
"If you were to name a grandfather of medical oncology in Canada,
I don't think there would really be any competition - Danny would
be it," said Doctor Ian
TANNOCK, the current Daniel Bergsagel Professor
of Medical Oncology at the University of Toronto.
However, Doctor
BERGSAGEL's passion for his patients and dedication
to myeloma research never eclipsed his love of the arts, literature,
wine, travel, good food and, above all, family. He was as comfortable
leading a round of song at a wedding as leading medical rounds
in hospital. Unlike many professionals today, he combined his
vocation with his personal life in a way that enriched both.
When his children were young, he would take them to his laboratory
on weekends. Once, he showed two of his sons the small white
mice he used in some of his experiments. Later, when son John
was asked what his father did for a living, he answered: "He's
a mouse doctor. And not a very good one because most of his mice
die." Both those sons are now practising hematologists, and one
- Doctor Leif
BERGSAGEL - is internationally recognized for identifying
the genetic changes that cause myeloma.
Another example of how deftly Doctor
BERGSAGEL blended the professional
with the personal was his insistence that his wife accompany
him on the many meetings he attended around the world. When possible,
he also took the children. He once transformed a visiting professorship
at the University of Manchester into a two-month vacation in
England and France for the entire family. Often, he would turn
to his family and say, "Aren't we lucky to be here and to being
doing this?" Back in Toronto, the family home had an open-door
policy, with Doctor
BERGSAGEL regularly bringing colleagues home
for dinner. Although conversations tended to start with medicine,
they rarely stayed on topic.
"I had the pleasure to be invited to his home," said Jan
WESTIN,
a medical researcher with the University of Lund, Sweden. "After
long discussions on myeloma therapy, he also interrogated me
regarding the best recipe for Swedish snaps."
Another Swedish scientist - Gosta Gahrton from the Karolinska
Institute in Stockholm, remembered a certain medical meeting
in the Middle East - "Then, we talked not about myeloma but about
carpets," Doctor Gahrton said.
Daniel BERGSAGEL was born into a devout and close-knit Lutheran
family in Outlook, a small farming community in west-central
Saskatchewan, 80 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon. His father,
a Norwegian immigrant, was president of Outlook Lutheran College,
and later an ordained minister serving Lutheran parishes in rural
Saskatchewan. His mother, born in Minnesota, also came from Norwegian
stock. As a child, his playground was the prairie and woods bounding
the South Saskatchewan River. He was the oldest of three children
and remained connected to his brother John and his sister Marion
throughout his life. Music played a big part in the family's
life, and Doctor
BERGSAGEL developed a love and talent for singing
that led him to join choirs, barbershop quartets and even an
opera chorus.
After graduating from Camrose Lutheran College, he entered premed
studies at the University of Manitoba. Accepted into medical
school, he supported his studies by working as a porter on the
Canadian Pacific Railway, where he supplemented his earnings
with poker winnings - a fact carefully hidden from his strictly
religious parents. While at university, he joined the Gilbert
and Sullivan Society. During one production, he met a young woman
whose grandparents had emigrated from Iceland. The two were married
in 1950. Perhaps it was their shared Nordic heritage that cemented
what was an exceptionally strong partnership. Choosing Joyce
SIGURDSON to be his life companion, his brother John
BERGSAGEL
says, "was the wisest thing he ever did."
After graduation and a brief stint working in northern Manitoba,
Dr. BERGSAGEL pursued postgraduate studies in hematology with
Dr. Wintrobe in Salt Lake City, Utah. He made the decision after
being diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes - he needed to
work in a specialty that allowed regular hours and meals. The
arrival of his daughter Karin in 1952 and his son Paul two years
later were yet more reasons.
Although Doctor
BERGSAGEL thrived under Doctor Wintrobe's rigorous
tutelage, years later he would tell his grandchildren: "I still
have the creepy feeling that he checks everything I do." With
his mentor's help, he was accepted at Oxford, where he received
a doctorate in 1955 before accepting a position as hematologist
at the M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston.
His fascination with proteins and drug therapy led him to specialize
in patients with myeloma. If science was to make any headway
in defeating this disease, he once said, it needed a better understanding
of the disease, and better drugs to treat it. At that time, urethane
- which had been in common use for about 20 years - was proving
to cause more harm than help. In fact, M.D. Anderson did not
admit people suffering from myeloma because nothing therapeutic
could be offered them. However, Doctor
BERGSAGEL obtained consent
to admit myeloma patients for the testing of new drugs. The first
one he tried was mephalan. It had a significant effect and became
the standard therapy worldwide for more then 40 years, remaining
in use today. In recognition of this achievement, he was awarded
the first ever Waldenstrom Award for myeloma research.
While treated well in Texas, where he was happy and productive
and even became a U.S. citizen, Doctor
BERGSAGEL could not resist
an offer to work with prominent scientists at the Ontario Cancer
Institute and to serve as chief of medicine at Princess Margaret.
The family returned to Canada in 1964, having expanded to include
John and Leif.
For the next 25 years, Doctor
BERGSAGEL conducted research, treated
patients, and taught interns and residents while administering
medical matters. Under him, the hospital made huge advances in
cancer treatment. When he arrived, the hospital had just 12 beds
designated for medicine, as opposed to surgery or radiation.
Today, as part of the University Health Network's oncology and
blood disorders program, it is the largest medical oncology centre
of its kind in Canada.
Highly respected as an academic and scientist and cherished for
his gentleness and attention to life's simple pleasures, Doctor
BERGSAGEL
loved his work but also loved to entertain. He enthusiastically
took part in Princess Margaret Hospital's annual Christmas concert.
His children always had to wait to open their presents until
he returned from the hospital, where he carved the turkey for
patients.
"It wasn't that sometimes he wasn't competitive or couldn't get
cross, but he was always a very gentlemanly figure," said Doctor
TANNOCK,
who first met him in 1976. "The worst swear word I ever heard
him use was 'Drat.' "
However, he was not without his old-school idiosyncrasies. Extremely
polite with women, he nonetheless had trouble accepting their
presence in medicine.
"Gad," he would say. "They'll just go off and have kids!" On
one occasion, he had a meeting with four female doctors in the
same small room. All happened to be pregnant and he gingerly
avoided bumping into one.
Another quirk was that he always wore a collar, clean white shirt,
and tie - even to do the gardening.
Dr. BERGSAGEL retired at age 65 but remained active and interested
in myeloma research. In 2001, he was named to the Order of Canada.
Then, in 2002, the diabetes that he had managed for so long took
its toll and he suffered a stroke, which left his right arm severely
weakened. More recently, his vascular system worsened, and late
this year he suffered a serious heart attack followed by a large
stroke.
"He will be remembered for his very human qualities - he was
kind and genuinely interested in the lives and careers of those
who worked with him," recalled Toronto oncologist Jacinta
MEHARCHAND.
"His patients had ultimate trust in him."
Daniel Egil
BERGSAGEL was born in Outlook, Saskatchewan., on
April 25, 1925. After suffering a heart attack and stroke, he
died at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on October 20, 2007.
He was 82. He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 57 years, plus
brother John
BERGSAGEL, sister Marion
TWYMAN, daughter Karin,
sons Paul, John, Leif and seven grandchildren.
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