We regret to announce the passing of Dr. Leonard Cox of Victoria, BC on August 25th, 2018. Len was born on July 27th, 1931 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Len was a happy young man with many friends and enjoyed the attention of a large extended family. He attended the University of Saskatchewan in 1949 with the intention of a career in Engineering but influenced by a maternal aunt nurse-anesthetist chose medicine after undergrad.
He met and married Greta Gustauson of Turtleford, SK in 1957, and began in family practice in Prince Albert in 1959. He entered a surgical residency in Winnipeg in 1962 and accepted a Urology residency position in Boston in 1963, now with Greta and three children in tow. On completion, he trained in New York at Columbia Presbyterian in pediatric urology under the direction of the legendary Dr. John Latimer. Leonard was offered a position at Harlem Hospital as Assistant Professor but declined in favour of returning with Greta to Canada, now with 4 children, to Victoria, BC at the invitation of doctors Hopkins and Duxbury, to begin the modern practice of pediatric urology to Vancouver Island in 1967.
He was the second fellowship-trained pediatric urologist to come to BC and the first in Victoria. Len had a very full combined adult and pediatric urology practice in association with Dr. Bruce Piercy and had a special interest in the surgical management of erectile dysfunction. Leonard was well loved and respected by his urology group, residents and interns and especially by his patients.
Len, like Dr. Latimer, his mentor, had an array of interests and activities outside of practice, including travel, large dogs, private aviation and his beloved cottage at Sproat Lake in Port Alberni. Len had “nine lives”, with multiple mishaps resulting from his firm belief that he could do anything any tradesman, plumber, electrician, roofer, farmer or landscaper could do. Somehow, he always escaped.
He bore his final illness, metastatic esophageal cancer with dignity and in typical Len fashion chose the time and date of his passing, just after his and Greta’s 61st wedding anniversary. He will be missed for his social grace, good humour, and energy.
He leaves behind Greta and his 5 children, Sandra, Jacqueline, Roberta, Jonathan and Adam, as well as their spouses, and 14 grandchildren.
Len declined a funeral service. A Celebration of Life is planned for November 10, 2018 starting at 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Uplands Golf Course, 3300 Cadboro Bay Rd, Victoria, BC V8R 5K5. Please contact jacquiecox@shaw.ca for further details.
Condolences to the family may be offered below.
McCall Gardens
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13 Responses
Greta and family, we are so sorry to hear of your loss. We will miss Leonard. I always enjoyed our aviation chats “over the fence”. We will miss him dearly. If we can be of any help please let us know.
Your neighbours. Jim and Sue
Our condolences to Greta and Family on the death of Len. We always saw Len with a happy, enthusiastic smile, he will be missed by many.
Living next door to your family for a few short years left me with a lifetime of memories….including driving Dr. cox “crazy” by phoning every day, or several times per day to play with the girls! He was a warm and caring man and I am sorry for your great loss.