Mamoru "Mo" Watanabe

Born in Vancouver, BC, the eighth child of Takazo and Nao Watanabe. While a Grade 3 student at Strathcona School, along with other Japanese-Canadian students, he was expelled following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The following year, his family was evacuated from Vancouver and relocated to Lemon Creek, BC, an internment camp, and later, as the war ended to Bay Farm, and New Denver, BC. In 1948, when the BC government ordered the Japanese people to leave BC and either go east of the Rockies or to Japan, he and his family moved to Montreal, Quebec. After graduating from Verdun High School in 1950, he enrolled at McGill University where he earned his BSc (1955), MD.CM (1957), and PhD in Experimental Medicine (1963). His clinical specialty training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism was at the Royal Victoria Hospital, affiliated with McGill University, obtaining his FRCPC in 1963. He continued his research studies in Molecular Biology as a Postdoctoral Fellow from 1963-66 at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, joining their faculty as Assistant Professor in 1966-67. In 1967 he was recruited as Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta and the University Hospital where he was appointed as Head of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1968. He was then recruited to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary and the Foothills Hospital as Professor and Head of Internal Medicine in 1974. He became the Faculty of Medicine’s Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education (1974-78), Associate Dean of Research (1978-80), Acting Dean (1981-82) and Dean (1982-92). During his administrative years, he remained active in clinical practice, medical research and medical education. His vision was to elevate the Faculty of Medicine towards national and international recognition and reputation. His research work, evidenced by his publications, spanned basic medical sciences (molecular biology), clinical research (endocrinology, hypertension), health services (telehealth), health administration (physician workforce), health policy and medical education. He championed the pursuit of excellence in all spheres of medical research through his involvement with numerous research funding organizations.

He retired from the University of Calgary in 1997, continuing his work in Health Policy, Health Administration, Information and Communications Technology (Telehealth) with many advisory committees, boards, task forces at the provincial, national and international levels.

He received an honorary DSc from the University of Alberta (1997), an LLD from the University of Northern British Columbia (2007). He became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001 and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and many other awards from various national medical organizations, having served in many executive positions with them.

He is survived by his wife Marie, son David, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, all of his brothers and one sister.

At his request there will be no funeral service and cremation has taken place.

If desired, donations may be made to the charities of your choice.