DR. JOHN SCOTT NORQUAY

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

DR. JOHN SCOTT NORQUAY With great sadness we announce the passing of our father and grandfather, John Scott Norquay, D.D.S., on September 7, 2009 at Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg. Scott was predeceased less than a year ago by his loving wife of 61 years, Mildred Louise (nee Riley). He is survived by his sister, Eileen Clare Perreault of Montreal; his six children, John Cameron Norquay (Anna Marie), Linda Louise Norquay, Donald Scott Norquay (Glenda), Darlene Audrey Shirley Thiessen (Abe), Kathryn Anne Johnston (David) and Ronald James Norquay; as well as his 22 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Scott was born in Brandon, Manitoba, on November 14, 1920, the son of Jacob Truthwaite Norquay and Ethel Scott. He was proud to be the grand-nephew of the first native born Premier of Manitoba, Honourable John Norquay. He was also proud to be a descendant of six Hudson's Bay Company fur traders, including the Governor of the Southern District, Thomas Vincent and of his Orcadian and aboriginal mixed-blood heritage. The son of a rural school teacher, growing up through the Great Depression, Scott spoke fondly of his boyhood in Rathwell and, especially, Westbourne, where he enjoyed playing hockey on the Whitemud River with future NHL players and saving local boys from drowning. In the Dirty Thirties he worked as a young farm labourer for under a dollar a day to help support his family; and, after high school, he worked as a dishwasher, bellhop and doorman at the Hotel Fort Garry. At the tender age of 19, Scott volunteered to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force for the duration of the Second World War. Following his training at Trenton, Ontario, as a leading aircraftman, he served on the staff of the ground instructing crews at Calgary and Vancouver. He then joined the ground crew of bomber Squadron 415 in England, rising to the rank of Sergeant. In anticipation of the D-Day invasion, he transferred to 143 Wing in order to support fighter air bases in Europe. Scott joined the liberating forces in France on D-Day plus 6, moving on to air bases in Belgium and Holland. He moved on to Germany to join the Allied forces who had just liberated Bergen-Belsen, where he witnessed the horror of the Nazi atrocities and assisted with the rescue of the survivors. He returned to Canada in June of 1945. Scott continued to serve his country after the war by joining the military reserve, receiving a commission as A/Captain in the Royal Canadian Dental Corps of the Canadian Army in 1952. In 1945, Scott commenced studying Dentistry at the University of Toronto, and graduated with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1950. After graduation, he established his practice at the Medical Arts building in Winnipeg. In 1960, Scott and his medical partners established the Westwood Medical-Dental Centre. Together with three dentistry partners, he founded the Assiniboine Dental Group in 1966, and continued to practice dentistry at the Clinic until his retirement in 1985. Scott also instructed clinical students at the School of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba, and served as Dental Surgery Department Head at Grace General Hospital. He was inducted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists in 1978. Scott was an active member of the Manitoba Dental Association, serving as chair of the Auxiliaries Committee and as a member of the Peer Review Committee, and was elected as an honorary life member in 1986. He also served as President of the Winnipeg Dental Society in 1963. As a member of St. Chad's Anglican Church, he served on the Building Committee for the Assiniboia Christian Centre. Soon after returning home at the end of the Second World War, Scott was enchanted by Mildred, the love of his life, a young war widow with a two year old son. They married in Winnipeg in 1947 and resided in the north end, in St. James and in Westwood. Summers were spent at the family cottage at Gull Lake and on numerous camping vacations with their children. After retirement, Scott and Mildred moved to their home on Lake Winnipeg at Beaconia. They enjoyed many trips together, as well as their regular three-week stays at their condominium on Maui. An avid golfer and former member of Breezy Bend Country Club, Scott was able to continue enjoying the sport well into his 80s, even making his own clubs. Scott was also able to spend more time in his retirement pursuing his life-long passion for photography, with the pinnacle achievement of this hobby being the publication of one of his photographs in the December 1995 edition of National Geographic magazine. Scott took great pride in his children and grandchildren. He was at his happiest spending time sharing stories with family members. The family wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to Doctors Thorlakson and Cavers and the 5th floor staff of Victoria General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice. Visitation was held on Friday, September 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue. Memorial service will be held on Monday, September 14 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrews on the Red, 3 St. Andrews Road, with a reception to follow at Larter's at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, 30 River Road. Chapel Lawn 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 12, 2009