In memoriam: Dr. Raymond Heimbecker, Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery.

It is with great sadness that we inform you Dr. Raymond Heimbecker, Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, passed away on February 13, 2014.

Dr. Heimbecker completed medical school, a Master of Arts Degree, and a Master of Surgery Degree at the University of Toronto, followed by residency training at the Toronto General Hospital and fellowships at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and at Guy's Hospital in London, England under Sir Russel Brock. Dr. Heimbecker joined the Department of Surgery at Western University in 1974 at the rank of Professor and as Chief of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Service at University Hospital; a role which he held until his retirement in 1986.

Dr. Heimbecker was well known nationally and internationally as a pioneer in the field of cardiac surgery and heart valve transplantation. He was awarded the George Peters Award and the Lister Award for Experimental Surgery; a McLachlin Travelling Fellowship; the Gold Medal from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; and a Special Award from the Rose Foundation of India recognizing his teaching and research in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Heimbecker was known for his ability to create functional models that would later be developed for clinical use. He performed the first open heart surgery without the need for a blood transfusion; the first bioprosthesis of a cardiac valve in the thoracic aorta; and was the first to insert a bioprosthesis of the mitral valve. At the time of his retirement, Dr. Heimbecker had over 100 publications and had trained 25 research fellows and 40 chief surgical residents while treating hundreds of patients with a caring and professional disposition.

Dr. Heimbecker was elected as a senior member of the Canadian Medical Association in 1989; was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1997; and awarded the Order of Ontario in 2002. He is survived by four children and seven grandchildren.

We send our sincere condolences to Dr. Heimbecker's family and friends at this sad time.

Spring Interment at All Saints Anglican Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pat's Place c/o Family Services Toronto (www.familyservicetoronto.org) or Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Friends may visit Dr. Heimbecker's online Book of Memories at www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com