Kevin Leonard wrote this moving tribute to his friend, Doug Gosling:
As you might have heard by now, we lost a great person, Doug Gosling, last Wednesday, May 30th – and I want to take a brief moment to comment on his passing and what his life meant to me and to all of us.
In the Fall of 2008, I had the opportunity to meet Doug for lunch with a mutual friend (David Wiljer – and for this alone, I will be grateful as this single event changed my life so much for the better). It was during this lunch at the University of Toronto Faculty Club that Doug shared with me his life story – and he did so in a way that was not sad or depressing but rather very uplifting. We agreed that we would do some work together (i.e., conferences, writings) to help people understand that healthcare in Canada can be very effective but can also be improved … by considering one simple additional change – let patients have a louder voice and “allow them to provide more input on the outputs!” Patient Destiny received a big boost from meeting Doug that day, and became a better organization with Doug’s input and enthusiastic involvement.
Over the last 3 plus years, Doug and I had great conversations and he showed a deep emotional and caring side to all people – not just to ones that he knew or liked, but to all he would come in contact with. It is this openness that I will try to emulate over the rest of my life. I admire his courage for sharing his personal health journey far and wide so that others may learn and understand. That being said, he was also very much a family man and the hardest issue (I believe) for him to deal with was that of leaving behind his loving wife, Dianne – I know he felt much sorrow about leaving her here to live out the rest of her life without him.
Take care, Doug, and I will think of you and your journey often over the coming years and hopefully when we meet again, there will be so much more that you can teach us all.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 in the Turner and Porter ‘Butler’ Chapel, 4933 Dundas Street West, Toronto (between Islington and Kipling Avenues). Click here for Doug’s Notice of Passing.
My deepest condolences to Dianne and the family.
Kevin
