Dr. John William Kerr passed away at Perth Hospital on Friday, June 23.
Born Feb. 27, 1928, in Guelph, Ont., to William and Mary Kerr. He was the beloved and devoted husband of 59 years to Catherine Beryl (nee Haynes) who passed in 2012. Father to George (Laurie-Anne), Jean (Jim), Ross (Melanie) and Ian (Judi-deceased) and much-loved grandfather to Luis, Jaime, Silas, Ernie, Moses and Ayla. He was preceded in death by his brother Ron Kerr (Arlene) and brother-in-law Roger Haynes (Mary).
Jack attended Guelph Public School and Guelph Collegiate where he was active in sports and named head boy 1946-47. Originally considering the ministry, he instead chose a life of service in medicine and graduated from Queens Medical School in 1953, winning the Professors Prize in Surgery, the Professors Prize in Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Research Prize in Anatomy. He completed his internship and part of his residency at the Kingston General Hospital and was awarded the Hoffman Scholarship in Surgery.
He and Beryl were married in 1953 and moved to Liverpool, UK, for two years in 1955 where he finished his residency and Beryl worked as a surgical nurse. Upon their return to Kingston, he was certified as a specialist in general surgery and proceeded to rack up an impressive number of appointments, memberships and positions within the medical and university community. In 1970, he became an associate professor of surgery with a major interest in pediatric surgery and in 1985 was named deputy chief of surgery at KGH. One of his greatest joys was being the associate dean of undergraduate affairs at Queen's from 1988 until his retirement, where he counselled and supported young medical students of all stripes.
His lifelong passion for athletics is highlighted by his tenure as team doctor for the Queen's football team and he was proud to have his name entered in the Queen's Football Hall of Fame in 1983. An avid traveller with a particular passion for the sea, he relished making friends throughout his long and colourful life. He will always be in our hearts.
In Jack's memory, donations can be made to the Meds 1961 Jack and Beryl Kerr Bursary at Queen's University.