Dr Edward Nevil Mercer

At age 81, Edward passed away peacefully at the Montreal General Hospital at 2AM on Thursday, June 21, after living for many years with Parkinson's disease. Predeceased by son Robert Salvatore (2007) and sister Maureen (2005) (Clyde Simpson); survived by his loving and devoted wife Anna Maria, children Greg (Jules Urovitz), Thomas (Christina Armour), Alison (Gary Butler), former wife Elizabeth and sister Margaret (late Robert Graham). Edward was a grandfather to Lauren, Oliver, Finlay and Griffin.His brother-in-law Tony Valente (Vicky) his niece Lisa (Shawn) his nephew Michael (Lori) and his great niece Natalia.

Edward was born in Calgary on May 1, 1931 at 9:45PM, to Nevil Mercer and Charlotte Linden. As a youth, he developed a passion for flying and began lessons with the Calgary Flying Club in April 1948, earning his private pilot license on August 6 of the same year. In 1954, he graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a BASc in Mechanical Engineering. While attending UBC, he became a member of the RACF Primary Reserve via the university training program; he was awarded his pilot's wings on September 6, 1952, and made an Officer in the RCAF on October 1 of the same year. Edward obtained his commercial pilot's license on December 22, 1953, and worked as an engineer for the Defence Research Board at the Suffield Experimental Station, Alberta. In 1955, Edward returned to UBC to study Medicine, obtaining his M.D. in 1960. He interned and did one year of medical residency at Ohio State University Health Center before returning to UBC to focus on cardiac-related research for three years (two of them, with Dr. Gordon Dower). During a fellowship at Vancouver General Hospital, Edward completed the Specialty Fellowship Examinations in Internal Medicine, earning his FRCPC in 1966. In 1969, he successfully completed an 18-month Fellowship in Cardiology at the Mayo Clinic before joining the staff at the Montreal General Hospital as Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, a position he held for 14 years. During much of that time he also ran a part-time private Cardiology practice outside of the hospital. At the end of 1982, Edward opted to leave Montreal and join the staff at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There, he served as Consultant Cardiologist, then as Acting Head, Cardiology. He returned to Canada in 1991 and enjoyed life after retiring in 1996.

Despite his many accomplishments, Edward was a modest man. He conveyed curiosity and compassion, and his good-natured dry wit was welcome on any occasion. We will always remember Edward's love of a good joke, his genuine kindness and the twinkle in his eye.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Edward's name to the Canadian Cancer Society.

The family will receive condolences at Centre funéraire Côte-Des-Neiges, 4525 Ch. De La Côte-Des-Neiges, Montreal, H3V 1E7 (514-342-8000). Dates: Monday, June 25 from 2 - 5PM and 7 - 10PM; Tuesday, June 26, from 9 - 10AM.

Funeral Service on Tuesday, June 26 at 10:00AM.