Dr. Peter Read Knight, age 95, of Hamilton, passed away on June 8, 2023, at his second home, St. Joseph's Hospital, where he worked as a general surgeon, teacher, mentor and colleague for 25 years.
Dr. Peter Knight was born in 1928 in Auckland, New Zealand. He attended medical school in Birmingham, U.K., where he met his beautiful, beloved wife Dr. Gwyn Knight, and graduated in 1953. Upon completion of medical school, he worked in various British hospitals, and then moved to Boston, U.S., as a fellow at Harvard University, working at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital on kidney transplantation. In 1964, Dr. Peter Knight and Dr. Gwyn Knight moved to Adelaide, South Australia, where he performed the Southern Hemisphere's first successful kidney transplant in 1965.
In 1969, Dr. Peter Knight was appointed associate professor of surgery at McMaster University. At St. Joseph's Hospital, he performed Hamilton's first renal transplant in 1970. Dr. Knight then served as chair of the section of chronic dialysis and transplantation for the Ontario Medical Association. He also served as an adviser to the Canadian Kidney Foundation, president of the St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Staff Society and as a member of the hospital's board of directors.
Not one to rest on his laurels, in the 1980s, Dr. Peter Knight became an expert in motor vehicle trauma and its prevention. Together with Canadian Automobile Association and the police, he presented a successful plea to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that the province's in-vehicle restraint laws should be upgraded to include all passengers, especially children under six years of age.
As a member of the Global Traffic Safety Trust (GTST), an elite global team of vehicle experts, he co-authored a book called Reducing Road Trauma: A Global Challenge, which received the Volvo Traffic Safety Award in 1988. GTST continued to work tirelessly across several countries to promote road safety and the prevention of road deaths and injuries.
Widely recognized for his many professional accomplishments, Dr. Peter Knight received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award and also the Canada Volunteer Award, to name only a few.
Dr. Peter Knight's greatest loves were his wife of 50 years, Dr. Gwyn Knight (1929-2008), his family: Judy (Dominic) of Chapel Hill, N.C.; John (Bridgid) of Missoula, Mont; Naomi (Tawfik) of Seattle, Wash.; his seven grandchildren Gwynivere, Giselle, Cole, Myles, Bronwynn, Cecilia and Malcolm; Moira Brookes of Birmingham, U.K.; his dear friends and neighbours from Hamilton and around the world; and his many beloved communities. He will be remembered for his very big heart, his marvellous sense of humour, his operatic singing voice and vast musical songbook and his grand example of a long life well lived.
As expected, Dr. Peter Knight wished for no pomp and circumstance at the completion of his remarkable life's journey, but his children plan to defy this particular order and host a gathering of dear friends later this summer (details to be provided separately).
Enormous and heartfelt thanks for the exceptional palliative care Dr. Peter Knight received at St. Joseph's Hospital from Dr. Michael Achong, Dr. Jean Mullens, Dr. Anne Boyle, Kathleen Willison and the magnificent nurses and support team on seven surgical.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, please make a donation to the St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Foundation or a deserving charity of your choice.
Condolences, memories and photos may be shared online.