Obituary: Dr. Robert Merrifield Baird
Robert Merrifield Baird, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS
Dr. Robert Merrifield Baird, in his 95th year, peacefully at home in Vancouver in the company of his beloved wife Patricia and surrounded by their children.
Bob was born in Trail, BC to Dr. Merrifield Roberts Basted and Orriel Evelyn Basted (née Briggs). Bob followed in his surgeon father’s footsteps and after finishing high school in Trail went to UBC, graduating from Medicine in 1957. He then trained in general surgery at McGill and in England, returning to Montreal to be Chief Resident in Surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and completing his MSc during his surgical training. He met his wife Patricia, also a physician, while there. In 1964 they moved to Vancouver where they spent the rest of their 62 year marriage, enjoying a busy surgical practice, teaching medical students and residents, raising three children, and enjoying the outdoors with many hiking trips in BC.
He had a busy surgical career at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, and was a leader in the surgical treatment of breast cancer in BC. He was Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee of the BC Cancer Agency, and Chair of the BC Medical Association Cancer Committee, and was President of the North Pacific Surgical Association. He valued interdisciplinary discussions and patient management, and especially his association with the BC Cancer Agency. Following his retirement, he and Pat travelled extensively with winter weeks in Hawaii and Palm Desert where they enjoyed hiking and especially taking their grandchildren to the palm oases, as well as in Europe and Asia.
He was predeceased by his parents and by his older sister Joan Hind-Smith. He leaves his three children Jennifer Baird (Leith Dewar, Jocelyn and Angus Dewar) of Vancouver, Brian Baird (Megan Evans-Baird, Aidan and Jemma Baird) of Vancouver, and Bruce Baird (Sophie Liamidi Baird, Jemma Baird) of Tucson, Arizona. He is also survived by his nieces and nephew: Stephanie Hind-Smith (Marcel Meyer) of France, Jenny Marks (Randy Marks) of Toronto, and David Hind-Smith (Larinda) of Toronto. He will be deeply missed.
The family would like to thank Dr. Brad Fritz who was his family physician for many years, and was a great help over the last months.
In his memory, donations to Help St Pauls would be appreciated, in lieu of flowers.
A memorial will be planned at a later date: to receive details, please email PatBobBairdMemorial@gmail.com.