Dr. William Ward Kendrick passed away peacefully on August 13th, 2013 in Victoria, B.C.
Bill was born on November 13th, 1924, in Toronto.
He earned a degree in Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1949, and a fellowship in Urology in 1956.
Dad met our mother Joan Macfarlane, an operating room nurse, while working in Regina. They married in 1958 and relocated to Victoria in 1962.
Bill’s medical practice can best be summed up by the parade of patients who would drop by every Christmas to bring him presents. Fixing urological problems always came with a steady mix of anecdotes, humor and advice that endeared him to patients and the medical community alike. Once, when asked why so many of his patients remembered him Bill replied, “you never forget the man who helps you pee again.”
Bill had a ‘retirement’ in 1994, but worked as a surgical assistant until he was 80 years old.
Bill was a veteran of WW2, serving with the RCAF as the flight engineer of a Lancaster bomber. He walked away from a plane crash during training.
When the war ended he entered medical school and promptly broke his neck playing football. After spending a year in a body cast, he resumed his studies.
As a father he was a welcome source of sage wisdom and quick wit. No conversation with Bill was complete without at least one joke woven into the narrative. Above all he was a gentle and generous man, sincerely amazed that he’d raised four children and not one of them had done prison time.
He was Mom’s best friend and they enjoyed 55 years of a happy marriage described by her as “never a dull moment”.
Bill’s favorite hours were spent salmon fishing, tending his roses, doing needlepoint, playing poker, writing emails to his children and grandchildren, and socializing with his longtime circle of friends.
Bill was pre-deceased by his parents William and Elizabeth (Bess) Kendrick of Ottawa and Victoria; first wife Mildred Hogan of Montreal and their infant.
Bill is survived by his wife Joan; four children, Kathleen (Dan Holte) and Victoria (Gary Bugeaud), of Calgary; Robert, of Columbus, OH; Michael (Eliza Coblentz), of Portland, OR. He is also survived by five granddaughters; Rachel, Zoe, Parkes, Rennie and Lucy; two step-grandsons Tyler and Chase; and former daughter-in-law Kealy Wilkinson of Victoria.
Many thanks and gratitude from the entire Kendrick family to those who provided care and support during Dad’s last year of life.
At Bill’s request, no funeral has been planned. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Victoria Hospice Foundation. www.victoriahospice.org. Condolences for the family may be offered below.
25 Responses
Dr. Kendrick was an excellent teacher. What he taught us to care for urology patients is remembered to this day – some 50 years later. Remembered with respect.
Jean Jenkins (Chaplin, R.N. RJH Grad. 1960.)
As a fellow urologist and colleague for thirty+ years, I feel a great debt to Bill. He was a mentor both surgical and personal, a humorist, but above all a gentleman. I loved working with him as a surgeon, where the advice dispensed was both pertinent and humorous, and he clearly understood the basic truth that a happy OR is an efficient OR.
Wendy and I wish Joan and the family all the best; and thanks for a life well led, Bill, and thanks for all you did for me.
Dr. Kendrick, Not only were you a great, funny welcoming person to us Hosie Kids at family outings, I know you and Dad were great friends for many years and we will all miss you alot. Jill Hosie and family
We are sorry for your loss, Kendrick family.
Deepest condolences to Joan and family, Bill was a long time friend,colleague&mentor,we will remember his gentle wit & his skills a s a raconteur & surgeon.He looked after my family& patients for many years.
Deepest condolences , Bill was a friend , ,colleague and mentor who looked after my family and patients for many years
We will miss his gentle wit and skills as a raconteur
,not to mention his surgical skill latterly as a much in demand assistant
Bill was a wonderful man. With our sympathies…..
We were saddened to hear of Bills passing and want to send our condolences to Joan and the family. We valued our friendship of so many years, and will certainly miss our lunches in Sidney. We are thinking of you Joan, and send our love.
My wife Jacquie (OR nurse) and I (anesthesiologist) worked for many years with Bill. I don’t think we met a more kind, thoughtful and humorous person at VGH. I particularly liked the fact that when one of my jokes/stories met with a larger than usual groan I could use the disclaimer that it wasn’t actually mine but had come from Bill Kendrick! Our thoughts and condolences to all his loved ones.
Bill was absolutely the best neighbour and friend to us for so many years. He and Joan were so generous and welcoming when we first moved in and they never stopped giving and caring. I’ll miss his calls over the fence to come and pick roses or sweet peas, and his delight any time we could give him smoked salmon.
Much love to Joan and thinking of all of you,
Sherry
It was always a pleasure working and socializing with Bill. In sympathy, Ken Wilson, BC Cancer Agency.