Alexander Canaday McLeod

Alexander Canaday McLeod passed away November 6, 2020 at home. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in January 1935, Alex had been a resident of Nashville, Tennessee since the 1960s. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Walter Guy McLeod and Dr. Vida Canaday McLeod, and his brother, Robert Franklin McLeod. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy Woods McLeod; his children, Alexander Woods McLeod (Sarah) and Dorothy McLeod Poli (Peter).

A Princeton University Class of ’56 graduate with degrees in German and Music, Alex accomplished pre-medical curriculum requirements and chose to follow in his parents’ footsteps as an M.D. While at Duke University Medical School, he took his fourth year at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, later training at New York Hospital’s Cornell Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Hospital. From 1962 to 1964, Alex served as a U.S. Naval Flight Surgeon assigned to the Marines, receiving the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba). Alex subsequently moved to Nashville and practiced general internal medicine for more than 30 years.

Having a lifelong love for knowledge, while in his 50’s and still practicing medicine, he received an Executive M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Combining his medical, business, and teaching interests, in the ensuing years Alex acted as faculty coordinator for the Owen School’s Health Care Management program; directed faculty seminars on the interdisciplinary aspects of health care issues; served as a Clinical Professor of Medicine Emeritus; was an Adjunct Professor of Management and a Clinical Professor of Medical Administration; and served on the board of The Blair School of Music – all at Vanderbilt University. In addition, he was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the Association of Physician Executives, and a board member of National Safety Alliance Corporation.

Alex and his wife Dorothy (Dotsie) traveled extensively during their 55 years of married life, exploring 6 continents. Prior to each trip, months were spent researching the culture and history of each upcoming destination, and creating extensive documents and presentations on each country to share with their fellow travelers In fact, there was never a time Alex did not have a research project in the works, whether it was on developing methods to provide management education for health care professionals, publishing articles in medical journals, researching the Second World War, or Highland Scots history and McLeod genealogy. He served two terms as president of Associated Clan MacLeod Societies and was the Genetics Study Group Project Administrator. Both of his children have fond memories of many trips to Scotland and the Isle of Skye, where Alex made certain they had first-hand account of their heritage.

While medicine was the passion that drove Alex’s career, music was the passion that flowed through Alex’s life. In 1955, while at Princeton, he took a summer abroad and received a Certificate of Study from Stadische Akadamiefur Tonkunst in Darmstadt, Germany. He performed in the Princeton University Glee Club, the Baltimore Symphony Chorus, and the Christ Church Choir (Nashville). In 2012 he oversaw the publication of the book Music as Mission: A History of Music in St. George’s Episcopal Church. After his retirement from medical practice, he returned to his piano, taking lessons at the Blair School of Music, where he and Dotsie became involved with the student body and hosted many student performances events at their home. In 2014 he began a comprehensive independent study of Bach’s cantatas which subsequently extended to all of the composer’s choral works.

In addition, Alex particularly enjoyed the time spent with his close friends the “Ole Goats.”

He will be remembered for his fondness for his many Skye Terriers and sole Springer Spaniel, his daily feedings of the Koi fish in the backyard pond and his ability to never fail to smirk as he told one of his numerous jokes.

A service will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Jean and Alexander Heard Award at the Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music or to the Music Fund at St. George’s Episcopal Church.