Dr. William Gerard de Haas

William (Bill) de Haas died peacefully with his family by his side at Aspen Woods Seniors Residence in Calgary. His health had declined over the past year. He is survived by his children; Jennifer, Vim (Lisa) and Ian (Sylvia); grandchildren Tom, Eric, Stuart, Mercedes, Brianna, and Jacqueline; and his four great grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews in British Columbia and South Africa. He was predeceased by his first wife Mary de Haas (Montgomery) and his wife of 45 years, Vera de Haas (May).

Dad (Bill) was a wonderful, kind man, with a sharp, quick wit and an exceptional mind. He trained as an Orthopedic Surgeon initially in Edinburgh, Scotland then under his mentor, Ian McNab in Toronto. Ian said that there is a small city in Western Canada called Calgary that was looking for orthopedic surgeons. Off he and family went - dad loved the city and the mountains and set up his practice there in 1960. He spent the initial 20 years of his practice caring for people of all ages at the Children’s Hospital, the Holy Cross Hospital and Foothills Hospital. Bill was a gifted surgeon who was well respected by his peers, nurses and patients. In 1981, he moved to the West Coast and dad practiced there until his retirement in Victoria, BC.

We were ‘provided’ many words of wisdom…. One was that it is important to contribute in life in some manner where you ‘leave your mark’. My goodness did he ever! We are most proud of his medical research where he was one of the founders/inventors of “electro-magnetic stimulation to heal difficult fractures”. He used his Fridays to commence this research at the University of Calgary in 1972 with excellent results leading to many presentations, publications and a year as President of the Canadian Orthopaedic Research Council.

While working at Foothills Hospital, he met a nurse, Vera May. They were both intellectuals, shared many interests together and married in 1974. Family times, both summer and winter, were spent at the cabin on Lake Windermere. Wonderful friendships began there as well. Dad and Vera lived most of the last 30 years of their lives in beautiful Victoria. Much of his time was spent off shore on his sailboat or in their beloved garden behind their home. He and Vera loved Victoria.

A note of thanks for the wonderful care dad received from all the medical staff and caregivers at Verve Aspen Woods. Dad’s humor and kindness prevailed throughout his life and we celebrate the beautiful memories he left behind and the profound impact he had on each of us. At his request, a small private celebration of life will be held in the near future at one of his favorite venues.