It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr. K. Wayne Johnston. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Cain; his daughter, Andrea; and son, Matthew; their spouses, Andrew Megginson and Paloma Wang; his grandchildren, Mercer, Maren, Myles and Piers; and his brother, Doug. Wayne was predeceased by his wife of almost 50 years, Dr. Jean Turley.
In his professional life, Wayne was one of Canada's preeminent academic surgeons and made an unparalleled contribution to the development of vascular surgery globally. He was a gifted surgeon who treated his patients with compassion and kindness. His roles as a teacher, researcher and leader in the profession have left an enduring legacy. He established the department of vascular surgery at the University of Toronto, where he was chair for over 20 years and trained generations of vascular surgeons. He had a major influence on the practice of vascular surgery by serving as the co-editor of two editions of Rutherford's Vascular Surgery, the seminal medical reference text for vascular surgery, and as, for seven years, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Vascular Surgery. Additionally, his prodigious research led to advances in the practice of vascular surgery which improved the care of patients with vascular disease. He was a driving force in the creation of the Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery and subsequently served as its president. In the United States, he served as president of the U.S. Society for Vascular Surgery and, in 2009, was honoured by this society with a 'Lifetime Achievement Award.' In recognition of his contributions, he was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018.
Wayne lived a full life. He had an unending curiosity about the world and loved to travel. The trips he made with his family members have left them with enduring memories of cherished time spent together. He had a lifelong enthusiasm for photography, and this has blessed us with a library of images to memorialize time with Wayne. The garden at his home was a passion for him. It was a half-century project of his that created a place of sanctuary and peace that he loved to share with family and friends. Wayne's family is very grateful for the compassionate care that he received from medical professionals at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Toronto General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Princess Margaret Foundation or the Dr. K. Wayne Johnston Memorial Fund.