Remembering Dr. Gary Beazley

2020-02-20

Gary Beazley, beloved husband of Elizabeth (Tyson) Beazley, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2020.

Gary was born in Winnipeg on September 30, 1937, and was predeceased by his parents, Gordon and Bessie.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife Liz, sons, Gord (Pamela) and Bruce, daughter Mary (Kirk), and grandchildren, Holly and Jack Suggitt and Rachel and Julia Beazley. He is also survived by his brother Norman (Louise), his sister Linda and her family, and his sister-in-law Judy Tyson and her family. He was predeceased by his dear friend and brother-in-law, Buzz Tyson.

After growing up in Port Arthur, Ontario, Gary moved back to Winnipeg in the fall of 1955 to pursue a career in medicine. It was there that he met Liz, who was then a student nurse at Winnipeg General Hospital. Gary and Liz married in 1960 and together spent almost six decades building a wonderful life centered around family and dedication to providing excellent medical care and training.

Gary spent the first decade of his career practicing in the Transcona Medical Group and making house calls throughout Transcona and the surrounding area. In the early 1970s, with the support of the Grey Nuns, he and three colleagues were asked to develop a family physician training program. The Family Medical Centre at St. Boniface Hospital and the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Manitoba were born from this work, growing from just two residents in 1973 to 150 residents across 10 sites today. Gary taught for almost three decades, served as department head, and earned the designation of Professor Emeritus. After retiring from the university, Gary spent the last 10 years of his career with the Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre and the Workers Compensation Board.

In 1999, Gary was very honoured to be named Manitoba Family Physician of the Year, and later, to have the Patient’s Medical Home Award established in his name. This award annually recognizes a medical clinic that embodies the pillars of care for which Gary advocated for most of his career, including: continuity of care, interprofessional teams, quality improvement and patient-centered care.

The place our dad most loved to be was at Florence Lake (Winnitoba) with his family. It was there that he and Liz built their cottage in 1968, next door to Liz’s original family cottage. In 1976, Gary and Gord built a log sauna which is to this day a very popular gathering spot for the “occasional” gin and tonic. The cottage was a launching spot for Gary’s treasured canoe trips - first with Gord and Bruce, then Mary and finally with Gord and granddaughter Rachel. Gary loved canoeing, hiking, fishing, chopping firewood and picking blueberries. The lake was also a great training ground for the many marathons Gary ran, including the inaugural Manitoba Marathon.

The family would like to thank the staff of Concordia and St. Boniface General Hospitals for their kind and compassionate care of our father and husband.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 22, at 10:00 a.m. at Glen Lawn Funeral Home, 455 Lagimodiere Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation or to L’Arche Winnipeg. Family and friends may sign a book of condolence at www.glenlawn.ca. Glen Lawn Funeral Home 204-982-7550.