Obituary of Dr. William Bentham

BENTHAM, Dr. William Harry Will died at Stony Lake on August 28, 2012. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Christie; six children and their spouses: Ken and Ann, Margaret and Michel, John and Dianne, David, Harry and Andrea, Claire and Bob; his brother Jim and Barbara; grandchildren Sarah, Paul, Rebecca, Genevieve, Laurence, Camille, Amanda, Alex, Christopher, Katherine, Hillary, Harley, Bobbie, and Renee and several great-grandchildren. Will obtained a BSc at Sir George Williams where he financed his education by working afternoons in a clothing store. While studying medicine at McGill he worked as an ambulance driver and lab technician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and, inspired by the anaesthetist Dr. Harold Griffith, decided that his medical specialty would be anaesthesia. Will met his future wife, Christie, when she tested his hearing at the Hamilton General Hospital during his internship. After their marriage they returned to Montreal for Will""?s specialty training, then to Toronto where Will practiced anaesthesia at the Scarborough General Hospital. He was one of four original appointees to the medical board of Scarborough Centenary Hospital, which opened in 1967, and was twice Chief of the Department of Anaesthesia. Because he was a superb anaesthetist and a caring physician, Will""?s services were frequently requested by nurses and doctors for themselves and their families. He also provided anaesthesia services at the Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Woodbridge. Towards the end of his career, he specialized in pain block practice, with many grateful patients. Three years on the Board of the Ontario Medical Association, Will was Chairman of the Committee of Economics and Medical Practice. In 1968 he was one of three Canadian Medical Association delegates chosen to tour Soviet medical facilities as guests of the Medical Workers""? Union of the Soviets. Will and Christie enjoyed many years at Stony Lake, where Will served as President of the Cottagers""? Association, and as crew on Christie""?s beloved sailboat, Spree. He was also a skier, golfer, tennis player, gardener, pianist and ""fixer of everything"". Always a gentleman, and a gentle man, Will lived well and will be greatly missed. At Will""?s request there will be no funeral. Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. William H. and Mrs. Christie J. Bentham McGill Medical Research Fund, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, 1010 Sherbrooke St.W. Montreal H3A 2R7. Friends may send condolences by contacting THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES, LAKEFIELD CHAPEL at www.hendrenfuneralhome.com