Louis Horlick: December 2, 1921 - October 23, 2012 - obituary

Louis Horlick, OC, SOM, MD, FRCPC
Born December 2, 1921 in Montreal, Quebec, died October 23, 2012 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Mourned by his wife Ruth, four sons and their wives, Jonathan (Kathi), Andrew (Anne), Allan and Simon (Margo) and eight grandchildren, Sarah, Leah, Nicholas, Sam, Simon, Jay, Zoe and Abby. On October 7, 2012, he and Ruth celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. His parents, Sophie Katz and Phillip Horlick, separately emigrated from Poland and Russia to New York City to escape religious persecution and make a new life. They met working in the NYC garment district sweat shops, married, and in 1910 immigrated to Montreal, Quebec. Louis was the fourth of seven siblings, predeceased by Jacob, David, Sam, Miriam and Sarah. He is survived by his sister Ruth Krashinsky. In Montreal, Louis attended Devonshire Public School, Baron Byng High School and, through scholarships and the assistance of his siblings, McGill University. He graduated in medicine from McGill in 1945 receiving the Holmes Gold Medal for the highest standing over 4 years of studies. Louis interned at the Montreal General Hospital, spent 2 years as a fellow in the Cardiovascular Institute at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago where he began his career in medical research in the area of experimental atherosclerosis. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American College of Physicians in 1952. Louis completed his training in internal medicine and cardiology at McGill receiving an MSc. and Diploma in Internal Medicine (Experimental Medicine) in 1953.
Louis' goal was to work in academic medicine, and in 1954 he joined the staff of the Department of Medicine of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, when it became a full four year degree granting institution. He had the privilege of teaching the first group of students to graduate in medicine from the UofS. Louis established the Division of Cardiology and its laboratories and developed a research program in atherosclerosis. From 1968 to 1974 he was Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine. He was a highly skilled clinician and treated patients from throughout Saskatchewan over the course of his 50+ years of medical practise at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. He became Emeritus Professor in 1989 and continued to work in cardiology until earlier this year. He published more than 60 papers in scientific journals and gave many papers at scientific meetings in his area of research, cholesterol and atherosclerosis. He was recognized internationally for his research. Louis wrote and edited 3 books dealing with the history of the Uof S College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital. The first, Medical College to Community Resource: Saskatchewan's Medical School, 1978-1998, added to the history of the first 50 years (1926-1978) of the medical college written by Louis' medical colleague Dr. D. J. Buchan in Greenhouse to Medical Centre. The 2nd, They Built Better Than They Knew: Saskatchewan's Royal University Hospital, 1995-1992 appeared under Louis' name. The third, J. Wendell Macleod, Saskatchewan's Red Dean, was a biography of the man who played a critical role in establishing both the new College of Medicine and the University Hospital.
Louis had the honour and privilege to be involved in many of the important institutions which make up Canadian medicine. He served as a Member of the Medical Research Council of Canada, as Member of the Medical Council of Canada, and as Member of Council and Vice President (Medicine) of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He was a Member of the Saskatchewan Health Research Board and served as Vice-Chairman of that Board. He served as Chairman of the Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation and served on the UofS Board of Governors.
Recognized for his scholarship and contributions to Canadian Medical research, Louis was the recipient of many awards, including: National Health Scientist Award 1975; National Volunteer Award 1988; Saskatchewan Order of Merit 1991; James Graham Award, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 1991; Annual Achievement Award, Canadian Cardiovascular Society 1992; Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Award of Scientific Merit 1994; and Officer of the Order of Canada 1995.
Louis was immensely proud of the Royal University Hospital, the UofS, and especially the College of Medicine where he trained hundreds of physicians who practise throughout Canada. Louis loved teaching medicine and took much satisfaction in the success of UofS medical graduates. He and Ruth embraced Saskatoon as their new home in 1954 and Saskatchewan provided them with many opportunities for which they remain grateful. Together they made many contributions to the cultural life in Saskatoon. A lover of music, he supported the Saskatoon Symphony and sang in the University Chorus. As a long- time volunteer with the Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation and with their support, Louis Horlick was instrumental in persuading the City of Saskatoon to establish a 9-1-1 emergency system that is relied on every day by over 240,000 Saskatonians. Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 26, 2012 at Congregation Agudas Israel, 715 McKinnon Ave., Saskatoon. In memory of Louis Horlick contributions to the Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation are welcomed.