It is with great sadness that the CAR shares news of the passing of prominent radiologist and long-time member Dr. Frederick Robert MacDonald at the age of 99.
“Dr. Bob”, as he was known to friends and family, passed away with his loved ones by his side on September 12 at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, AB.
Dr. MacDonald was a loving husband to Eleanor Vera Turner for 68 years, before her passing in 2023. He was a devoted father to his four children – Kirk, Chris, Andrew, and Sally – and a loving grandfather to his grandchildren Rosalind, Ariel, Isabelle, Cale, Amy, Aidan, Adriana, Max, and Johnny.
“Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bob never forgot his maritime roots and was a proud Nova Scotian,” reads Dr. MacDonald’s obituary. “Following in his grandfather’s (HK MacDonald) footsteps, he attended medical school at Dalhousie University, graduating with his MD in 1950. Bob moved to Montreal to pursue a specialty in radiology at McGill University and met his wife Eleanor Turner, who was a nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital. In the late 60’s Bob was on the Council of the Canadian Association of Radiologists. In 1971, Bob and Eleanor decided to move to Calgary where Bob joined the radiology group (Morrish, Evans and Associates) at Foothills Hospital. He loved his work at the Foothills Hospital and later worked for the EFW Radiology group in Calgary. He especially enjoyed his teaching roleassociate professorship with the University of Calgary medical school for over 25 years. Bob loved and was deeply devoted to the practice of medicine. He worked well into his seventies at EFW Radiology. He cared about his patients and about the quality of care provided to them by his colleagues and their staff. Bob enjoyed reading, watching Western movies, golfing with his buddies at the Glencoe and fishing in his later years and tied his own flies to share with friends. Bob had a generous, compassionate heart and was always there with a big hug when needed. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of The Manor at Garrison Woods and to the nurses at Beyond Neighbours for their unwavering care, compassion and love given to their father in his last years.”
The family of Dr. MacDonald recommends considering a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta or to the Hotchkiss Brain Institute in Calgary for research on dementia and cognitive disorders in lieu of sending flowers.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 8 at 2pm MT to commemorate the life, achievements, and spirit of Dr. MacDonald, taking place at Lakeview United Church, 3023 63 Ave, S.W. Calgary, AB.