It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Kieran (Kerry) Mac Con, on April 26, 2023, after a brief but serious illness.
Kerry was born on Jan. 31, 1944, in Galway, Ireland to Dr. Charles and Alice Mac Con. In his youth, Kerry was a decorated swimmer (Irish National butterfly champion), a Blackrock diver off the Salthill promenade and a deep-sea rescue scuba diver for the West of Ireland.
Kerry graduated from the University of Galway with an Honours in Medicine and Surgery in 1968. He later completed a Master's Degree in Orthopedics from the University of Liverpool in 1974. Kerry obtained his medical fellowships for the United Kingdom in 1972 and later in Canada in 1978 (Queen's University), having emigrated to Kingston, Ont., in 1975.
In 1978, Kerry began his long and successful career at Mackenzie Health as Richmond Hill's first full-time orthopedic surgeon. He established and developed its Orthopaedic Department. Spanning four decades, Kerry was a member of the medical executive where he served as president. He also served as the Head of the Division of Orthopaedics and as Chief of Surgery and Clinical Director, Surgery program (2003-2008). During SARS, Kerry played a critical leadership role at the hospital. Kerry also travelled to Northern Canada to provide orthopedic services to remote and underserved communities.
Above all else, Kerry loved to provide care to people. Nothing made Kerry prouder than helping the injured recover from their ailments. Kerry had a larger-than-life persona that lit up a room. He had the Irish 'gift of the gab.' He endeared himself to all with his great sense of humour and charisma. Over the years, many weekends were spent at the family cottage in Thornbury, Ont., where Kerry enjoyed windsurfing and jet skiing on Georgian Bay, building his concrete monument retaining wall and skiing at Craigleith Ski Club.
Kerry was also an avid amateur historian, astronomer and naturalist. His love of learning was lifelong. His musing and love for erudite conversations will forever be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Silvia; his children, Karen (Cary Schneider), Laura, Ronan (Amy Mac Con), Douglas, (Erin Mac Con); and grandchildren, Haedan and Alexis Schneider, Fiona and Teagan Mac Con and Alistair Mac Con. He is tragically predeceased by our beloved Bridget Mac Con (2016-2022). He will be missed by his sister, Sheila Mangan; brother, Rory (Cathy); former wife, Mary; and Silvia's children, Derek and Ariel Fisher (Jonathan Barkan). Online condolences may be left at Marshall Funeral Home.