DR. LAURIE R. COKE, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.C.C.P., F.A.C.P.

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DR. LAURIE R. COKE, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.C.C.P., F.A.C.P. Dr. Laurie R. Coke, born June 12, 1913, son of the late Dr. C.E. and Edith Coke of Beausejour, died peacefully, on February 9, 2008, at Deer Lodge Centre. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years Jean (Woodside), sons Ronald (Denise) of Winnipeg, Robert of Oshawa, Dr. William (Susan) and John (Cathryn) of Toronto and daughter Elizabeth Cadwallader (Bradley) of Richmond, New Zealand, ten grandchildren, Alex, Stephan, Devon, William, Robert, Sarah, Michael, Charlie, Claire and Ian. He was predeceased by his brother Dr. C. Eugene of Florida and sisters Beryl, Gladys Mussen and Patricia Saunderson. His father died tragically the same year that he was born, so that his mother faced the challenge of raising five children as a single parent, working as a teacher at La Verendrye School. Despite the hardships, education remained the central priority for the whole Coke family. From his early years, his goal in life was to be a doctor, like his father, caring for Manitobans, and to have a family. He prevailed in this endeavour and received his MD. degree with honors from the University of Manitoba Medical College at age 21 and after a year of internship, graduated in 1936. His commitment to education never left him and throughout most of his life he could recite Shakespeare and recall quotes from the classics with almost as much facility as he interpreted electrocardiograms. Upon graduation, he spent a year of work at the St. Vital Sanatorium, where he also did research on vitamin C for which he was awarded the Prowse Bronze medal from the University of Manitoba. After a summer locum at Morris, Manitoba he moved to London, England to study Cardiology under the supervision of Sir John Parkinson at The London Hospital. His studies were interrupted by the outbreak of war in 1939. He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps and served as medical officer with the Suffolk Regiment before becoming an officer with Number 6 Commando Unit. He served with distinction ranging from raids in Norway and the coast of France early in the war, to the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, latterly while attached to No. 8 CCS, British 1st Army, and finally commanding an army hospital in Austria at the end of the war. He received special mention in the official history of the British Commandos, The Green Beret. At the end of the war, he returned to Winnipeg to join the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba as an Associate Professor. After completing additional training in Cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital with Dr. Paul White, he began work as an attending physician at St Boniface Hospital, acting as Director of Outpatient Services and helped create its first Heart Clinic. He also attended at Grace Hospital where he helped see it become accredited as a teaching facility and at Deer Lodge Hospital for 37 years, where he was a tireless advocate for veterans, particularly the Hong Kong Veterans. The Hong Kong Veterans Association formally recognized his efforts at a special dinner. He was a teacher, mentor and role model for countless students, interns and residents. He participated actively in local medical associations, the American College of Physicians, held a life membership as a Fellow Emeritus in the American College of Chest Physicians, was a member of the Medical Counsel of Canada and was a founding member of the Manitoba Heart Foundation as well as being a member of the Manitoba Medico-Legal Society and the Manitoba Science Club. Throughout, he maintained a busy private practice at the Medical Arts Building until he retired at age 82. He also consulted with many rural communities in Manitoba, including The Pas, Portage la Prairie, Churchill and Steinbach, as well as Langenburg, Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario. Like so many doctors of his generation, he had an uncompromising commitment to his profession and to his work, in part a reaction to the suffering he witnessed both before and particularly during the War. He respected his colleagues and all who devoted their skills and expertise to the care of the ill, both in hospital and at home. He enjoyed the many successes of his students. He freely gave his patients and their families his care and support in any way possible to alleviate their illness and improve their lives. He was proud to be a husband, father and grandfather. He and Jean encouraged their children to apply themselves to activities they were passionate about and think independently. He took great delight in watching the growth, development and successes of his children, their spouses and grandchildren. He possessed a lifelong love of Minaki which started in the late 1920's when he worked as a boatman to earn his way though college and in the late 1950's he was able to purchase a cottage. Thereafter, summer weekends with his family at Minaki were highlights in his life. He was a keen fisherman and enjoyed fishing trips with his children, teaching them to fish as well as the art of building a small fire on shore and making lunch. He loved gardening and was proud of his garden, the unique plants and trees he planted, and he cleared and re-located trees and rocks with tireless enthusiasm. Finding the first lady slipper in spring, seeing the birds of last summer return, watching the stars at night were all exciting to him and a pleasure to show his family. Quietly reading a book or joining in table games with family and visitors all were sources of happiness, relaxation and renewal for him. There were many happy times in his long and busy life. The family is particularly grateful to all the staff of Tower 3 at Deer Lodge Centre for their tender and affectionate care throughout his last years. Very recently, his eyes and his smiles showed his own appreciation. Funeral arrangements have been made through Thomson Funeral Home, and a memorial Service will be held at the Thomson chapel, 669 Broadway, on Friday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deer Lodge Hospital or a charity of your choosing.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 12, 2008