DR. IAN MACMORRAN

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DR. IAN MACMORRAN 1937 - 2012 Sadly, and after having fully engaged in a life where he showcased his talents and abilities in a wide diversity of ways, Ian passed away on December 24, 2012 in Palm Springs, California. Ian was an interesting man who valued and made friends with people from all backgrounds. Left to remember his many and eclectic achievements are his daughter Kristin Jean, his son William Scott (Anh Thu Bui), precious granddaughter Sao Mai, sister Joann, and special friend and travelling companion Carol Heppenstall as well as his cousins, Jim and Jean Hinkson and Scott and Anita Bomberger and family. Ian was predeceased by his father William Rowan MacMorran in 1980 and mother Annie Joanna in 1984. Ian attended Riverview elementary school and Gordon Bell high. Following graduation from High School, and prior to discovering his passion for medicine, Ian had many adventures. In 1956 he hired on as a lumberjack in Jeune Landing in northern B.C. where he worked on the boom , a job that required skill and was dangerous. While there he became lifelong friends with Peter and Alex Pan, medical students from Winnipeg who were choker men in the lumber camp. In 1957, and with some urging on the part of his mother, Ian obtained a certificate as a permit teacher and taught in Waskada, Manitoba. While there in the south-western part of Manitoba Ian bought a horse and learned what it's like to ride on the wild side . Given that Ian's grandfather was a physician (a graduate from University of Manitoba in 1896) and had an aunt who was also a physician and a mother and a sister who were nurses, perhaps it wasn't too surprising when he realized he had a passion for the sciences. In 1960, and with the urging and support of family, Ian enrolled at Franklin Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he completed four years of science in three years. Many avenues opened up for Ian while he was a student there. Although never a strong hockey player in Winnipeg, he started a hockey team at Franklin And Marshall and this team competed against prestigious schools such as Rutgers and Penn State. Ian also got involved with the Green Room theatre group and acted in Richard lll and Romanoff and Juliet. After completing his undergraduate studies at Franklin Marshall, Ian returned to Winnipeg to the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine graduating in 1965. Ian married Francis Solmundson in January of 1965 His post graduate work included an internship at St. Vincent's Hospital, NY, where daughter Kristin Jean was born, and residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital, FL, studying under Dr. Sarmiento, and where son William Scott was born. Dr. MacMorran was a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon (a diplomate in the Canadian Royal College of Orthopedic Surgeons) specializing in Hand Surgery. The family relocated to Penticton, B.C. and worked hard at establishing a practice. Highlights from those years included performing successful total hip replacements at the regional hospital when this type of surgery was only done routinely at major centres and developing the Okanogan Neurological Society, a team of professionals who worked with handicapped children. As a man who never cared for Winnipeg winters, the next move was to San Diego in 1982. Life remained busy and once again Ian developed a team of traveling specialists who provided medical assessment for people needing information about compensation for disabilities. In addition, and along with his business partner Aurelia Koby, he founded IMAK Products Corporation an orthopaedic products company. Ian participated in designing patented products that helped thousands of people across the country. During this part of his career, son Bill travelled extensively to many parts of the world always extending invitations to his many new found friends to come and visit. You can stay with my Dad. One of many who took him up on this invitation was a physician from Beijing James (Jianzhoa) Mu. Ultimately Dr. Mu stayed with Ian while pursuing his American credentials and successfully completed his exams as a Gastroenterologist. After his retirement, Ian moved to Palm Desert's Atria Hacienda, a retirement community at which he enjoyed the warm friendship of many of his peers. He often joined his friend Carol on adventures in the Canadian Arctic, the Pacific Northwest and Europe. Their favourite time however, was spent at Grand Beach. In fact a recurring theme in Ian's life was his love of Grand Beach and Manitoba summers. In his younger years, Grand Beach was the land of sunshine, volleyball, pubs and good friends who remained good friends throughout his life. In later years, even as his health deteriorated, and with help and support from Carol and his sister Joann he still managed to return to the beach and enjoy some quality time in the place that held a special spot in his heart. For the last few years, while living at The Atria Hacienda in Palm Springs he received special support and care from a host of health care providers. We wish to thank the staff for their many kindnesses and superb nursing care. Dr. Nina Maw Maw of Eisenhower hospital in whose care he finally arrived was a committed and loving clinician. The staff on 3 East, particularly the RN's and caregivers made Ian's brief hospital stay so comfortable and relieved of pain and anxiety. Ian's wish was to die at home and to that end we wish to thank the expert services of Megan and her staff at Charter Hospice and Mandy and her caregivers at Custom Care Solutions who provided round the clock loving care to Ian in the comfort of his home. On December 24, as a result of multi-system failure, Ian died peacefully. His capacity to experience life to the fullest will be missed. A Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Ian Scott MacMorran will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Palm Desert on January 5, 2013. In memory of Ian, tax deductable donations may be made to the MacMorran Family Legacy Fund to promote nursing and medical education and achievement. You may call the Winnipeg Foundation toll free at 1-877-974-3631 or visit them on-line for more information. Cheques may be mailed to: Winnipeg Foundation, 1 Lombard Place #1350, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X3 Canada.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 29, 2012