GUARD, Michael Christopher

Dec. 16, 1927 - Apr. 3, 2020

Michael Christopher Guard, BA, MB, BCh MRCS, LRCP died suddenly and peacefully at the Lynn Valley Care Centre at the age of 92. He will be dearly missed by his children Jeremy, Jonathan and Clare (Reuben), grandchildren Rebecca, Harriet, Gemma, Adam, sister-in-law Carmen and many other relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his wife Penelope and his brother David.

Dad was born December 16th 1927 in London, England. He attended St Edward's School, Oxford and studied medicine at Corpus Christi, Cambridge. National Service took him to Bonn where he met Mum working for the British Foreign Office. They married, and moved to Guernsey, Tunbridge Wells, then emigrated to Toronto, then West Vancouver. Dad had a bustling practice there and was President of the Medical Staff at Lions Gate Hospital.

In the 1970s, his adventurous spirit led him to become sole doctor for employees and their families at the Granduc copper mine in Stewart, BC. He was on call for everything: births, bar room brawls, autopsying dolphins for the Vancouver Aquarium, even caring for cast and crew shooting the movie "Bear Island". In the 1980s, he started working for the CU&C Health Services Society in Vancouver, mentoring young doctors who continue to pass on his clinical advice to their students to this day.

Dad was a complex, highly intelligent man with a great sense of humour and a penchant for playing the mischievous eccentric. His hair-raising sailing trips with Jonathan across the Georgia Straight in a Wayfarer dinghy were legendary. He was a keen gardener, creating beautiful gardens for each of the many homes the family moved to. He enjoyed playing bridge and travelling by bus to classical music concerts.

In his late 70s, he suffered several mini strokes leading to the onset of vascular dementia. The family is grateful to the many dedicated nurses and care team who looked after him during his 6 years at Lynn Valley. A funeral will be held as soon as social distancing rules permit. To receive notification of the date, please email guardfuneral@gmail.com. Please also consider donating to Doctors without Borders in Dad's memory.