DR. PHILIP F. HALL A

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DR. PHILIP F. HALL A humble and brave spirit until the end, Phil died peacefully on the morning of November 27, 2008. He will be greatly missed by his best friend and wife Judith, son Nicholas, daughter Ashleigh, son-in-law Josh, sister Wanda, extended family and friends in Canada and England and friends and colleagues around the world. Phil was born in 1948 in Toronto to parents Fred and Ruth. He attended McMaster University, working summers at Camp Kitchikewana in Georgian Bay. He went on to do his residency in Obstetrics Gynecology, followed by a two year fellowship in Prenatal Diagnosis at Toronto General Hospital. In Hamilton he met Judith, who he married in England in 1975. Phil, Judith and Nicholas moved to Ottawa in 1980 where Phil was a faculty member in Obstetric Perinatology at Ottawa General Hospital. After delivering many babies including the first set of quintuplets born at Ottawa General Phil and family moved to Winnipeg in 1989, where Phil joined the University of Manitoba St. Boniface General Hospital as Professor of Ob/Gyn Reproductive Sciences. Most recently he was Director of the St. Boniface Fetal Assessment Mb. Obstetric Outreach Programs and Chair, Medical Advisory Council. Phil was an incredibly thoughtful, generous and gentle human being. He will be remembered as a true renaissance man, a voracious reader, orator, and lover of music, fine wine, food and dusty martinis. Time spent at Lake of the Woods was important to him, particularly with Judith and friends over the past two years, where he felt the most at peace. Always a critical thinker and gifted writer, his lengthy, prolific and humorous ruminations on politics, life, and the craft that he loved will be missed by many, as will his skills at the piano. He was a proud supporter of the arts community in Winnipeg, and past Board Chair of St. John's-Ravenscourt School and Shakespeare in the Ruins. He fancied himself the reincarnation of Goodman Delver , Hamlet's friend, the grave digger. A friend of medicine, midwifery, the doula movement, and forever an advocate for women's health, Phil fought bravely and hard against a cancer which ultimately took him from us and the causes that he loved. Despite his illness, Phil insisted in staying as involved as he could in his many passions, even seeing medical residents for one-on-one teaching sessions up until his final weeks. It is with great sadness that we must say goodbye, though he will be forever remembered and celebrated in the hearts of the many whose lives he touched. Those of us who knew him were truly blessed to have encountered such a kind, gentle, and thoughtful soul. We are all so proud of you, Dad/Phil. We carry your heart in our hearts. The family extends thanks to the dedicated, caring staff at CancerCare and Palliative Care at St. Boniface, Dr. Kevin Coates, and friends who have been so supportive. In keeping with Phil's wishes, no service is being held at this time. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to CancerCare and/or Palliative Care at St. Boniface Hospital through the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, 237-2067, and to the Dr. Phil F. Hall Library gift fund at the University of Manitoba, 474-7132.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 03, 2008