William Henry Kaul

1940-2026

Bill Kaul passed away peacefully on the afternoon of April 16 in the palliative care unit of St. Michael’s Hospital.

Bill’s adventurous life began in 1940 in World War II Vienna, before moving to postwar England for the majority of his childhood with his younger brother Fred. To the surprise of many, he was accepted to the Middlesex Hospital Medical School in London. There he focused his attention on a young nurse named Sue, who would become his wife, and on his other passion, musical theatre. His children, his colleagues, and even the staff in the hospital can confirm that his love of singing continued until his final days.

His life continued with meaningful stages as a rural physician in the west coast of Newfoundland, surgical training in St. John’s and subsequently Toronto, and early career years in North Bay, Ontario, before finally settling back in Toronto for the last 43 years of his life. He collected colourful friendships and stories from each of these stages which he was perhaps overly happy to share time and time again.

Bill had many loves in life, among them his weekly squash games and soccer seasons with the North Bay Medics, his daily cryptic crossword, his voracious appetite for books, and his determined yet fruitless pursuit of Lake Nipissing pickerel. But more prominent than any of these was his love and dedication to his medical practice and the people within it. He loved his patients, his office staff, the residents he mentored to become his colleagues, and every person who played a role in his daily work life. Special mention to Beverley Kruger and Pam Singh, both of whom he loved dearly. He knew the story of every staff member at York Central Hospital and enjoyed every hallway conversation. His colourful personality shone through in his playful presentations, and his greatest contribution to medicine might be the hilarious consult notes that entertained a generation of referring physicians.

The Kaul household was a second home for the friends of each of Bill’s five children, gathering for Sunday dinners or in some cases dinners every day of the week. Bill loved the company since it meant more sets of ears for his stories and more glasses to fill with wine, so all were always welcome.

Bill is survived by his brother Fred, his wife Sue, his five children Rupert, Kate, Lisa, Matilda and Tom, and his ten grandchildren Benjamin, Penelope, Bruno, Oliver, Eliel, Eloisa, Lucy, Sam, Matthew and Jamie. We will miss your love, your color, your singing voice and your help with the hard parts of the Christmas crossword.

A special thanks to the St. Michael’s Emergency Department and its staff, to the St. Michael’s palliative care unit and its staff, and to Dr Farah Ali for their care of Bill in his final days.

A family gathering and cremation will be held.