Black Watch Friends:
Regret to report the passing of Dr. Dave Lawson this week in Calgary.
Dave was Unit Medical Officer with our Second Battalion in the late 1960s in Gagetown and Cyprus.

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LAWSON, Dr. David, MD
May 17, 1933 – Edinburgh, Scotland
October 18, 2017 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with heavy hearts that we say our dad, Dr. David Lawson, passed away on October 18, 2017 after a brave and stoic battle with a devastating progressive disease. Dad was born in Edinburgh where he lost his own father at a young age. He attended Heriot's School, a time in his life he spoke of fondly. As a teen, he moved to Alberta with his mom and his brother, where they settled on a farm in the Ferintosh area. From Ferintosh, he moved to Edmonton and worked a number of different jobs, including at "the gas company" where he met our mom, Doreen, who predeceased him in May 2011. They had three children together, David, Neil and Susan, all born in Edmonton. A late entrant to Medical School, he graduated the University of Alberta in 1968 at the age of 35. Subsequently, he became a member of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp with The Black Watch-Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, an association of which he was justifiably proud, particularly the blue beret he earned as a peacekeeper in Cyprus. When he left the army, we moved to Calgary where he joined the Calgary Associate Clinic and embarked on a general practice of medicine. During this time, he developed a habit of inviting interns from the University of Calgary Medical School to participate in his practice. Later, this was formalized and he became a professor with the university, teaching Family Practice out of the Holy Cross Hospital location. When he left the Holy Cross, he pursued an interest in geriatrics. Around that time, in the '90s, our parents were fortunate to welcome two grandchildren, from the marriage of David and Wendy, Nicole and Scott. Dad continued to be involved with medicine in various ways; he only really stopped formally practicing at about the age of 75. He was not fortunate enough to meet his great-granddaughter, Nicole's daughter Sophie, who was born this year. Our dad was an interested and interesting man. His curiosity was boundless. Always reading, he spent a lot of time with his nose either in a book, or the paper. Throughout his life, he had a keen interest in languages, learning German as a schoolboy in Scotland, taking on French in the Army, becoming fluent in Italian as an older adult, and always picking up phrases and words in his daily life: Ukrainian from family friends, and some Russian while on a cruise with our mom. In Mexico, he tried out his Italian with Spanish speakers, and by-and-large, it worked! He and our mom enjoyed bird-watching together and indulged this interest during their many travels. They went on a photographic safari to Africa, visited Australia and New Zealand, travelled in Britain and Europe many times, explored Mexico east & west, and cruised. Among their cruises, they took a river boat cruise in Russia, cruised the Panama Canal (twice), cruised South America, Alaska, and Germany. One of our dad's favourite places was Italy and they visited several times. They crossed Canada by car, both directions, and travelled extensively in the United States, including Hawaii. After our mom's death, our dad continued to travel, among other adventures, flying north to see the Oilsands, and to Churchill to see the polar bears. We love him and will miss him terribly. His wish was not to have a funeral or a ceremony and we will honour that wish. If you are a drinker of scotch, please have a wee dram in his name. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, a donation made to the Calgary Public Library Foundation Calgary Public Library 6th Floor, 616 Macleod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB, T2G 2M2, Telephone: 403-260-2600 would be appreciated. In living memory of David Lawson, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.



R. I. P.
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT