Donald set out on his final voyage on 20 July 2019 after a long, interesting and fruitful life that began on 15 June 1924 in Kaifeng, China.
Predeceased by his wife Elizabeth in 2002 and his son Robin in 1998, Donald is lovingly remembered by his son Ian (Linda) and daughter Joy (Len) and his grandchildren Rohanna, Eli, Zoey, Stefanie and Nicole, and god-daughter Kathie (Chris).
Donald studied medicine and surgery in Canada and England, where he met and married Elizabeth, and where Ian was born in 1951. A surgical position at Mengo Hospital took the family to Kampala, Uganda, where twins Joy and Robin were born in 1953. Donald’s surgical career moved in 1959 into orthopedics at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. A second surgical assignment in Uganda with CIDA in 1969 also began a long association with the Leprosy Mission and the work of de-stigmatizing the disease. From 1977 until his retirement in 1989, Donald served as Medical Director of the Hugh MacMillan Medical Centre, serving disabled children and their families. Among other innovations, he supported early engineering efforts to build the many kinds of specialized wheelchairs we see today.
Praised by colleagues for some of the most skilled surgical hands they had ever seen, Donald used those hands for home building, large and small woodworking projects, and bonsai. As time permitted, he also enjoyed small boats and sailing on the lakes of Ontario. Donald and Elizabeth moved to BC in 1999 to be near family in Victoria, where Donald maintained his own home until his last year.
Donald cared deeply for his family and maintained strong friendships within his community and across the world. He retained a lifelong interest in organizations that were important to him and served as a Board member for several, including the International Christian Medical and Dental Association and, after his retirement, Friends of Mengo Hospital.
Donald impressed everyone he met with his observation and acknowledgement of them. Visitors always appreciated his well-furnished mind packed with interesting stories, his courtesy, and his gratitude for any kindness. Those closest to him saw his awe-inspiring focus, determination and commitment to his principles. Years of practice honed his ability to think clearly and make points concisely and to budget his time and energy as a situation required. These gifts he used until his last breath.
The wellspring that fed this remarkable life was a deep Christian faith. Donald looked to scripture and his Christian fellow travellers for support and inspiration, and often expressed his gratitude for God’s goodness. One of his disciplines was reading Daily Light, Bible readings for each morning and evening. The reading for the night he died begins: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” [Neh 8:10]
Donald’s family is most grateful to the staff of Mt. Tolmie Hospital for the special care and kindness they showed to Donald in his last months.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday 1 August at 2 p.m. at Church of Our Lord, 626 Blanshard Street, Victoria.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully received for Friends of Mengo Hospital Canada.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
14 Responses
Our deepest sympathy to the Gibson/Block families Dr.Gibson was a man of great principles and great faith. He certainly lived by what he believed. It was an honour to know him.
Warmest regards,
Ross and Mark
To Ian, Joy and families
The respect I had for Uncle Donald was immense.
The memories are of visits to Willington with Aunty Betty, Ian, Robin and Joy; they were such happy family occasions.
Much of Donald’s incredible life was learned through photographs, letters and post cards.
I will miss his letters, full of news and wise words. I will never forget his continuous thanks to God for his life. What a gentleman, what an example to us all.
To the Family of the now late Dr Donald Gibson.
We thank God for his life and the time he spent at Mengo Hospital in the 1950’s .
May God comfort the family .
Dr Rose Mutumba
Medical Director Mengo Hospital
Ian and Joy we have heard about the death of your father from Jim sparling.Our thoughts are with you at this time. My wife and I visit Uganda twice a year and nearly every time I walk past your old house I think of your family. I have happy memories of popping over to your house to play or have a drink in the 1950s. I know my father had great respect for your dad and I too am grateful as he repaired my hernia. There are still older people at mengo hospital who remember your father and his good work. My brother Tim and sister prilla join me in sending our family love to you.Andrew Billington
Thinking of you and your family, Joy.
Love and Hugs.
Keen
Donald lived and breathed his faith. To me he was a beacon of Christian manhood, always demonstrating love, joy, peace, patience, goodness and kindness. I cherish the memories of the short time we knew each other. He could always make the conversation we had in the 10 minute ride to and from church count. I valued his views and always felt heard and respected, even when we disagreed.
Donald, Thank you for the influence you were in my life.
Hugging you tightly from a distance.
Joy xoxo
Dear Joy and Len
Our sincere condolences on the loss of your father. He had a life well lived and the world is a better place because of his wonderful contributions. Thinking about you.
Love and hugs to you,
Jenny and Bob
Dr. Gibson was my surgeon in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Our family felt from him a commitment to service, care and excellence. Years later, My mother told me that she was in awe and gratitude when, after my first orthopaedic surgery, at the age of three, he carried me, still sleeping in his arms, to explain to my refugee parents, the problems he had fixed.
He put my parents’ mind and heart at ease about my diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. In my early follow up appointments, he and I would sing songs from the soundtrack of the film Mary Poppins….”Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”! These memories are cherished and visceral, beginning more than 50 years ago. I felt prized by him!
I saw him clinically for the last time when I was 18 years old.
So many years later, in and around 2010, I learned that we were both living in Victoria and I asked to come and visit him. I wanted to thank him. We spent hours talking about what guided us both in life and once again, I experienced a man who gave great love, to his family and all who knew him, even through painful challenges of his own.
My family and I were honoured to know him. May he rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing and guide for his family, friends and for future generations of medical servants of God, for that is who I knew him to be. With Condolences, Gail Nestel
Joy, Ian and families: Patty and I are so remarkably grateful to be able to attend the Service and Celebration of life so
thoughtfully and meaningfully experienced by your father.
When he was the Head of the Division of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, at the Hospital for Sick Children, it
was my incredibly good fortune to be apprenticed to, then,” Dr Gibson.” Little did he or I know that a few years later we would work together, he would be my “boss”, at the Children’s Rehab Centre, in Toronto. Our friendship continued to grow,
and I was comfortable to call him “Don!” We were very glad to be present at his 90th B.D. party.
Patty and George Hahn,
Patty and I also fondly remember your mother and recall you and Robi in your late teens, Ian was likely