Edgar Thompson Peer MD

Passed away on Friday May 24, 2019 at the Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital at the age of 97 years. Beloved father of Adrienne Golden (Dave), Ian (Lorraine), Sheila, Cindy and Nancy Whan Tong (Hubert). Dear grandfather of David Davidson (Christy), Kim James (Suchetan), Bronwyn Campbell (Keith), Greg Davidson (Kasha), Alana Peer, Jessica Reimer (Phil), Bridget and Hubert Thomas Whan Tong, and greatgrandfather to Saige and Autumn Davidson, Micah, Logan and Theo James, Quinnlyn and Everleigh Campbell, and Evelyn Reimer.

A minister’s son, he was raised in various Ontario communities wherever his father was pastoring a church. He went to University of Toronto for medicine during WWII as a member of the army, and was given an honourable discharge after the war. He met Aileen Lannin while interning at the Hamilton General Hospital, and they were married on September 17, 1949. They settled in St. Catharines where he worked at the Niagara Peninsula Sanatorium (later the Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital), primarily with tuberculosis patients. He moved on to private practice several years later, working mostly with chest diseases, diabetes and allergies. With Aileen, they raised 5 children while maintaining an active role as a member of Knox Church choir, the International Association of Torch Clubs (he once served as president), and the Ontario Federation of Concerts. He served on the Lincoln County School Board, and was on the Board of Directors for Gateway Residential and Community Support Services. The Canadian piano technician’s course was initiated by him, which was originally set up at George Brown College, and then moved to Western University. After losing Aileen in September 1978, he realized that there was little to no support for men who have ailing spouses, so he subsequently established a group for men needing that type of support which met monthly; it is now known as Simon’s Companions. He was a Renaissance man: an AVID reader who gardened, loved history and architecture, enjoyed travel and photography, and had a penchant for playing pranks and causing mischief with a twinkle in his eye. He savoured anything sweet, appalling people with the amount of sugar he would take in his coffee or tea, and was known to have only consumed desserts as a meal on more than one occasion. We don’t understand how he didn’t become a diabetic. He enjoyed learning new things, and encouraged others to try new things themselves. Beyond all this, he loved the Lord and served Him through caring about others. He loved to hear other people’s stories, and liked to be of use to them, whether that was just listening, taking them out for coffee or a meal, or connecting them with others. He cherished his daily quiet time, praying and reading the Bible, and loved his weekly Bible study group.

His sense of hearing and sight diminished over the years, and he had much more difficulty walking, but we know he will be hearing the music of Heaven now, reunited with family and old friends.

A memorial service will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church, 53 Church Street, St Catharines (905-641-8868) on Saturday, June 1st at 10:30AM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital would be appreciated by the family. At Edgar’s request, cremation has taken place.

Arrangements entrusted to Hulse & English Funeral Home & Chapel, 75 Church Street, St Catharines (905-684-6346). On-line tributes may be made at www.hulseandenglish.com.