MacINTOSH, ROBERT ADEN, MD, FRCS(C) - After an heroic 17 year battle of survival following grievous injuries, Dr. Robert Aden MacIntosh finally died, peacefully, on the evening of Thursday, June 26th, 2003 at the Veterans Hospital in Fredericton. Bob was born in Andover, NB in 1918, the eldest of six children born to the late Dr. Aden MacIntosh and his wife, Mildred Wallace. He graduated from Acadia University in 1938 and then in 1942 earned his MDCM degree from McGill University. In that year, he married Katharine Ruth Collard and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. When he returned from overseas service in World War II as a captain, he interned at the Victoria Public Hospital in Fredericton and then completed his residency at the DVA Hospital in Lancaster, NB. From 1946 to 1949 Dr. MacIntosh was a general practitioner in Hartland and then went to Montreal to the Royal Victoria Hospital and Royal Edward Institute for training in surgery. In 1951, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons - no mean feat in those days as a local prominent surgeon once said. Another well known Fredericton doctor once said "In the early days, a general surgeon was truly a general surgeon, and Bob did everything from head to toe -- literally. From burrholes to in-grown toenails and everything in between including orthopaedics, urology, gynecology, skin grafting and peripheral vascular surgery." Throughout his illness, his family heard countless stories of his great expertise in the operating room, from patients who had routine procedures done to those who had injuries so severe they were given little chance of survival. From 1969 -1976, Dr. MacIntosh was chief of surgery at the Victoria Public Hospital. In 1976 he was elected president of the New Brunswick Medical Society. From 1977-1980 he was Chief of Staff at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital. Dr. MacIntosh's love for his profession, his zest for life, his thrill over new challenges and his joy of being with those he loved are how his family and friends will best remember him. Bob was a perfectionist in every thing he chose to do, and he chose to do a lot. He was involved in athletics of all kinds throughout his life, beginning with three years of basketball with the Acadia Axemen. He was a scratch golfer, winning the club championship at the Fredericton Golf and Country Club in 1961. In curling, he skipped teams that made two national bonspiels. He was an avid fisherman for several years, even tying his own flies. At age 60 he decided to take up downhill skiing and was soon skiing the black diamond runs at Sugarloaf USA. At the time of his injury, Bob was contemplating wind surfing as a retirement project. He was a superb knitter, a great gardener, and an excellent cook. He thought woodworking might be fun and built everything from a mahogany desk to three sailboats. Bob took up flying, purchased a single-engine plane and held a commercial license for 10 years. For several years, he played the bagpipes in the St. Andrews Pipe Band. Never doing anything half way, he ordered special silver pipes from Scotland which can still be seen in the band today. When personal computers first became available, Bob was quick to launch a new hobby. Within a relatively short period of time, no-one could answer his questions; he had mastered the technology as it was then. He was searching for yet another hobby when he had his accident. Dr. MacIntosh was pre-deceased by his wife, Katharine Ruth, and his grandson, James Robert, both in 1977. He is survived by his children Barbara MacIntosh, David (Lois Davidson) MacIntosh and Nancy MacIntosh, and his grandchildren Kelly and Richard MacIntosh, all of Fredericton. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Ian MacIntosh, and his wife, Nena and survived by his brother and sisters; Kathryn "Ta" Porter of Fredericton, Dorothy "Doe" Hatfield of Hartland, Sarah "Sally" Hawkes of Miller's Lake, Ontario and Graeme MacIntosh of Perth-Andover. His family would like to invite you to a celebration of the life of a most extraordinary man, Dr. Robert Aden MacIntosh, on Saturday, July 5 2003 at Bishop's Funeral Home. There will be a service at 2:00 pm followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the DVA van fund "Wheels for Vets" would be appreciated.