Surgeon was a pioneer in sports medicine
Ted Percy, one of the pioneers in Canadian sports medicine, has died in Victoria after a decade-long battle with cancer. He was 92.
A McGill University graduate, Percy joined classmate Dr. Hugh Brodie as the team physician for the Redmen and later worked with the Alouettes, the Expos and the Canadiens.
“He was involved with the Alouettes, but when Bob Brodrick, who was with the Expos, or Doug Kinnear, who was with the Canadiens, needed a surgeon, they called on Ted,” Brodie said.
Percy’s most famous patient might have been Canadiens defenceman Serge Savard, who broke his leg in five places in 1970 and then broke the same leg a year later.
“Ted screwed his leg back together and he was able to play in the Canada-Russia series in 1972,” Brodie recalled. “Team Canada gave all the players a watch to commemorate the series and when Serge returned from Russia, he gave his watch to Ted and he wore it all the time.”
Dr. Robert (Bobby) Berke, who was one of the stars of the 1969 McGill football team that went to the national final, recalled Percy’s work as the team physician and as a mentor in his medical studies. He also remarked on Percy’s wit. Berke had a patient who recounted an unfortunate incident in which he walked into an open manhole in Westmount. The man was able to avoid falling completely in the opening, but he suffered severe shoulder damage.
When the man presented himself to Percy, the doctor asked: “Did you see Ed Norton down there.”
Readers of certain age will understand the reference to the sewer worker portrayed by Art Carney in the classic comedy series The Honeymooners starring Jackie Gleason.
Percy was born in Montreal on Oct. 15, 1924, the youngest of four children of Irish immigrant parents. He attended Westmount High School and enrolled at McGill in the early 1940s. His undergraduate education was interrupted by the Second World War and he served overseas as a pilot with the RCAF.
He returned to McGill and graduated with honours from the Faculty of Medicine in 1951. His residency and fellowship in orthopedic surgery culminated in his appointment to the orthopedic staff of six hospitals, including the Montreal General and the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
Percy played a pioneering role in the field of sports medicine. In addition to his work with McGill and professional teams, he set up the first medical team for international Canadian athletes in 1970, was chief medical officer with the Canadian Olympic, Canadian Commonwealth, and Canadian Pan American Games teams, was a member of the International Association of Medical Officers, and was elected vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Association.
Percy was also a co-founder and the first president of the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine.
In 1978, Percy moved to Tucson, where he was recruited by the University of Arizona’s Faculty of Medicine to establish their sports medicine program. He remained an active member of both the medical and academic team there until his retirement in 1991.
With his children settling in British Columbia, Percy and his wife, Myrne, spent many summers in Kelowna before moving to Victoria in 2011. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, four children, 10 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.