Dr. Andrew DeWitt Baines (MD, PhD, FRCP) was born in Toronto on July 17, 1934, to Margaret Elizabeth Coleman and Clement Algernon Baines, and died on Feb. 27, 2024. Dearest friend and husband to Cornelia van Erk for over 67 years. Father to Nicole (Michael) and Nigel (Caroline); grandfather to Monique (Tim), Andrew (Katharine) and Amanda; great-grandfather to Nora; and brother to Linda.
A University of Toronto rugby player for 10 years, recipient of a U o f T award for athletic accomplishment, junior and senior fellow at Massey College (picture is of Andrew on his 80th birthday at the Massey College carrel, where he wrote his PhD thesis), principal of New College, biochemist-in-chief for the then newly established University Health Network and vice-dean (education) of the faculty of medicine. He also served as chair of Toronto's Annex Residents' Association, chair of Owen Sound Sweetwater Music Festival and on the board of directors for the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. An informed environmentalist, he installed geothermal heating decades ago, planted tens of thousands of trees in our managed forest and commuted to the university on his bicycle, even from Don Mills. He was a flautist, scientist, chef, artist, farmer, landscaper and cabinet maker — a man for all seasons.
Retiring from the faculty of medicine (compulsory) in 2001, he was invited to design the Stowe-Gullen stream in the Vic One program at Victoria University where he continued until 2019. He loved developing and teaching his course and never stopped missing students there after. Every day he spoke of how wonderful our life had been and how lucky we were. Amazingly, we just returned a week and a half ago from a tour of English theatre arranged by Ontario's Stratford Festival.
Donations to the Stowe-Gullen stream at Victoria College, University of Toronto, would please Dr. Baines.