Obituary of Donald Christopher Harrison

DONALD CHRISTOPHER HARRISON M.D., F.R.C.P.C., (April 5, 1925 - August 15, 2005) Naval veteran of World War II (known to his naval friends as "Hardtack�) Died at his home in Toronto on August 15, 2005 in his 81st year. Son of the late Dr. Frederick C. Harrison and Gladys Sutherland. Survived by his sisters Mary Barnett and Margaret Cross of Toronto. He is also survived by the love of his life Dr. Joan Fletcher Harrison to whom he has been happily married for 55 years. He was the father of Michael (Sarah French) of Guelph, Dr. Christopher (Deb Blair) of Calgary, Dr. David (Dr. Cathy Le Feuvre) of Mississauga and Dr. Helen of Ottawa. He has 8 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Don was born and brought up in Toronto. He attended Rosedale Public School, Upper Canada College and Royal Canadian Naval College. In 1944-1945 he was the navigator of MTB 745 and 736 of the 65th Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla operating in the English Channel, the North Sea and the Scheldt Estuary. When the war ended he became a medical student in the infamous ex-service year of the University of Toronto, graduating in 1950. Five years of postgraduate work at Toronto teaching hospitals and the Banting Institute were followed by six marvelous years of practice at Deep River, Ontario. Returning to Toronto, he conducted private practice and was a medical officer with Bell Canada for 27 years. During this time he served as Medical Officer for the Eastern Arctic Patrol in 1962 and 1965 , screening Inuit in the Eastern Arctic for tuberculosis. While with Bell he had many visits to Saudi Arabia, looking after Bell employees while Bell put in a new telecommunications system in the Kingdom. Don has been a life-long cottager at Go Home Bay, was president of the Madawaska Club at Go Home Bay, a member of Alpine Ski Club and the Aesculapian Club. He had a passionate love of skiing, boating and especially sailing. The family thanks Dr. John Kim, Dr. Anoo Tamber, and the staff of the Princess Margaret Hospital for their care and thoughtful consideration. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, August 18. A funeral service will be held at 1 o�clock on Friday August 19 at CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS, 611 St Clair Ave. West (at Wychwood Ave.), Toronto. If desired, donations to the Toronto Brigantine Inc, 249 Queen�s Quay West Unit 111, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2N5 or to the Canadian Red Cross, 1623 Yonge Street, Toronto Ontario M4T 2A1 would be greatly appreciated.