Peter Robert Grantham

Son of Herb and Aimee and predeceased by his sister Sally Nordman (Volmar). Thrice married, twice divorced (Mary Schaffer, Wendy Kaban) once widowed (Vivian Greenwood), he is survived by three children Barbara, Rob (Becky), and Ian; eight successful, well-educated grandchildren (Jonathan, Michael & Kate; Sarah & Sylvie; Mackenzie, Avery & Luke) and recently, great-grandson Eliyas.

Peter was born, lived and worked all his life in the Vancouver area, schooled at Kerrisdale Elementary, Point Grey Junior and Lord Byng High School. Vacations were spent working as deckhand on coastal tugboats. BA ’54 (Psychology) and MD ’58 from UBC, where extracurriculars included Beta Theta Pi fraternity and an officer’s commission in the RCN(R) via the University Naval Training Division. Third year pre-med was in Dutch at Bandung University, Indonesia. Interned at St. Paul’s Hospital, practiced what is now called “full-service family medicine” (at office, hospital, home) in Kitsilano and UBC campus, retiring at age 86.

An early supporter of the College of Family Practice of Canada, then a Certificant and Fellow, he was appointed the first Royal Canadian Legion Professor and Department Head UBC Faculty of Medicine 1978 (later Professor Emeritus). Instrumental in the establishment of the UBC Sports Medicine Clinic. Foundation Professor of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain 1988. Visiting Professorships in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Peter took seriously a physician’s responsibilities as an educator of patients, and for the next generation of doctors to become self-directed, competent clinicians.

Playing rugby (25 years at tight head prop) for school, UBC Thunderbirds, championship Meraloma Club, Vancouver and BC Reps and Canada (US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and British Lions), he was capped three times in the pre-professional era.

He spent a lifetime of happy summers at the family camp at Grantham’s Landing (a community founded by his grandfather Fred on the Sunshine Coast), boating, sailing, swimming, scuba diving, salmon fishing, gardening, harvesting beach logs for firewood, playing his guitar and his favourite, just lying in the sun. Traveled widely, enthusiastically, and enjoyably (latterly salamat Sherry Narvante) until illness confined him to the quiet and tidiness of his Ambleside apartment.

His medical history was complex: advanced heart disease, progressive idiopathic neuropathy, 2 significant cancers, multiple major surgeries. Peter was particularly grateful for the late-in-life care provided by GP Dr. Wayne Smith, various diagnostic and treatment services, local hospitals, several committed and helpful specialists, and most recently by Vancouver Coastal Health’s Palliative Care and Home Support Programs.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday April 17, 1:00 to 3:00 pm at VanDusen Gardens Great Hall, Vancouver.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make a gift in Peter’s memory to the “Building the Future in Medicine Bursary for MD Students” at UBC, to recognize Peter’s commitment to medical education, https://give.ubc.ca/projects/bursary-md-students/ ; or to the Meraloma Rugby Club Endowment Fund, in support of his belief that active living and sport are an important part of a healthy life https://canadianrugbyfoundation.ca/index.php/support-a-fund/club-funds/meraloma-rugby-endowment-fund/ .