George Stephen Douglas Cantlie died in his home on Jan. 14, 2024, at the age of 87. Born on March 6, 1936, he was fascinated by the natural world as a child, and dreamed of becoming a forest ranger. His interest in biology led instead to a career in medicine, and he specialized in the treatment of cancer at a time when great advancements were happening in the field. George was an avid reader, so he always kept up to date on the research, which made him an excellent clinician. He was also appreciated for his kind and considerate bedside manner.
Over the course of his career, George prolonged, and brightened, many lives. George never stopped being curious about the world around him, and always maintained a reverence for nature and life. He could identify many different species of birds based on their calls and plumage. He loved to fly propeller planes and gliders, to see the earth from far above, and to feel the thermals and currents of the wind. He loved to sail and fish. And he was also profoundly interested in humans, deeply appreciative of ballet and opera, because both exemplify the artistic potential of the human body. He was very interested in cultures, customs and languages from around the world, always keen to converse with people of many different backgrounds, and to learn from them.
George is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Tarr Cantlie; his children, Claire Morrissey and her husband Ken Morrissey, Paul Cantlie, John Cantlie and his wife Mona Cantlie; and his grandchildren, Nathan and Liana Morrissey, and Nicholas and Elena Cantlie. He will be missed by his stepchildren, Robert Tarr and his wife Jacqueline and daughters Racia, Antonella and Pietra, as well as Deborah Tarr Halmay and her husband Jason and daughters Julia Elle, Felicity and Summer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Paul Cantlie Endowment Fund at Reena Foundation, which supports Reena's programs, or to the Dorothy Ley Hospice.