It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of C Stuart Houston (26/09/1927 – 22/07/2021). Dr. Houston achieved a degree of success in three distinct academic fields, which most people would be satisfied to have attained in just one. Stuart was born in North Dakota where his parents, Dr. Sigga Christianson Houston and Dr. Clarence Joseph Houston, practiced before relocating to Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
Stuart completed his medical degree at the University of Manitoba and spent eight years in General Practice in Yorkton. Stuart then specialized in Radiology (now Medical Imaging) at the University of Saskatchewan with one year in Boston. He returned to a faculty position at the University of Saskatchewan where he stayed for his professional career. He served a term as chair of the department but particularly enjoyed his term as editor of the Journal of the Canadian Association of Radiologists.
He maintained a lifelong commitment to ornithology, mainly expressed through banding birds. Until 2014 he had banded 150,283 individual birds of 211 species, with 3,945 recoveries of 84 species.
His third concurrent career was as a historian, and his 13 books explored subjects such as early Canadian naturalist exploration, health care achievements and history in Saskatchewan, and more.
Stuart was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2019. He is survived by children Stan (Venta Kabzems), Margaret (Richard Ehman), David (Kate Bell) and Donald (Marty Helgerson), 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
A small family service will be held 31/08/2021 at Emmanuel Anglican Church in Saskatoon. We are exploring the possibility of Zoom participation; if you would wish to participate in the possible virtual event, please e-mail [email protected]. A larger in person celebration is planned for next year. If you wish to be notified of the details when they become available, please e-mail [email protected]. Donations can be made to Nature Saskatchewan or Luther Care.