William Gregory Pearce

6 March 1931 – 7 July, 2023

Bill was born and grew up in Vancouver and has always kept a strong link and love for British Columbia. He was very proud of being a Canadian through and through.

He used the iron self-will he was known for and worked hard to put himself through medical school, working in BC, sometimes at a salmon cannery and sometimes laying pipe, as well as successfully completing an M.D. in 1956. He completed his internship in Spokane, Washington from 1956-1957. After that, Bill went to the UK. He completed a primary fellowship in Edinburgh in 1959, then went on to complete a final fellowship in general surgery in London 1961 where he received his F.R.C.S. He studied psychiatry as well, but decided he wanted to specialize in ophthalmology. He completed a diploma in ophthalmology in London, finishing his final fellowship in ophthalmology in Edinburgh in 1963, and doing a residency at the Oxford Eye Hospital.

He was offered a prestigious and lucrative job in the U.S.A., but for Bill, medicine was about the patients and not the money, so he opted to stay in Canada, practicing first in Toronto as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Department of Ophthalmology from 1969-1971. Although offered a place at more established medical schools, he moved to Edmonton in 1971, where Bill began working at the University of Alberta Hospital, developing the Ocular Genetics Clinic. At the U of A, he held many roles, starting as an Associate Professor until 1976 when he became a full Professor. From 1972-1997, Bill was the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton. From there he went several times a year for many years to northern Canada, to Inuvik, to bring eye care to people in remote communities. Concurrently, from 1986-1991, Bill was the Director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Unit at the Walter McKenzie Center, specializing in pediatric ophthalmology and surgery.

Bill was a geneticist as well and specialized in genetics as well as ophthalmology. He has published many scientific papers, over 50, on these topics. Once molecular genetics was established, he was able to locate specific genetic markers and amass a database of 1500 individuals with rare eye conditions, including his specific interest: congenital stationary night blindness. His research work drew researchers from England to the U of A, and the database continues to be expanded by future generations of doctors.

Later in life, Bill developed a keen interest in the holocaust, accumulating a great wealth of knowledge and resources on the subject. In 2015, he endowed the University of Alberta the Rudolf Vrba Holocaust Reading Room, with hundreds of books on the topic to help educate others on this issue that he felt it was so important never to forget. Bill also organized an annual lecture series about the Holocaust, bringing speakers from all over the world to Edmonton.

Busy though he was with professional work, Bill still had time for his family, and took them on many amazing camping and canoeing adventures over the years, creating wonderful memories for the family to treasure forever! He had a passion for canoeing, exploring many of Canada’s rivers with friends and family.

He liked to downhill ski, but Bill loved to cross country ski. Many years he participated in the grueling many kilometers Birkebeiner cross country ski race, coming in first or second many times! One year his skis slipped on the ice and he broke his wrist at the start line. When asked about his disappointment at training and then missing the race, showing true Bill discipline, he said, “I didn’t miss the race; I just used one pole instead of two, and when that stopped working,” I gave the pole to a race official and carried on without poles”!

Golf was another summer sport Bill enjoyed, sharing it with family and friends.

For the last few years, Bill spent half the year in Edmonton, the summers, and the other half in Sydney on Vancouver Island, so he could enjoy outdoor pursuits year-round.

Bill had years of health and happiness, for which his loved ones are grateful, and died peacefully at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute with loved ones at his side. Thank you to all the staff there for their care and support.

Bill will be greatly missed by his wife Jarka; his children Douglas, Kenneth and Cecile; his grandchildren Duncan and Owen; his past daughter in law Sarah; his stepdaughter Dagmar/ Chris; his step-grandchildren Tina and Carmen/Jeff; his brother Dick and wife Barbara; his many nephews and nieces; and all of his other friends, family and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University Hospital Foundation.

A celebration of life service will be announced later……….