It is with great sadness and pride for a life well-lived, that we announce the passing of Dr. Ronald William Galloway Smart. Ron passed away peacefully on Sept. 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
Ron was the much-loved husband of Etta, with whom he recently celebrated 65 years of marriage. He was the most devoted father and constant counsel to his three children Alan, Carolyn (Chris Smyth) and Duncan (Nancy Blinkhorn-Smart). He was the proudest grandfather to Jennifer Smyth (Patrick Quinlan), Melanie Smyth (Brayden Siersma) and Cameron Smart and he adored his two great-grandchildren Nora and Cole Quinlan.
Ron was born May 28, 1929, in Dundee, Scotland, to William and Sarah Smart. He had two siblings, Muriel (predeceased, 2003) and David (predeceased, 2021). After the early deaths of their parents from tuberculosis, young Ron and David were raised by their aunt in Glasgow. Ron lived there through the war years, high school and National Service.
He went on to study medicine at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1955. He met Etta soon after, and they were married in 1959.
They made the brave decision to move their young family to Canada in 1966 where Ron began to practise family medicine on Belmont Avenue in Kitchener, eventually alongside his lifelong friend and fellow University of Glasgow graduate, Dr. John Bain.
Ron was a devoted family doctor and cared for thousands of Kitchener-Waterloo residents over his 30-plus-year career. He was also a respected leader in the medical community, serving a term as chief of medical staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and actively supporting the Kitchener-Waterloo Academy of Medicine.
One of Ron’s patients was Ron Schlegel, who became a dear friend and eventually a business partner in the development of The Village of Winston Park long-term care home. After retiring from his medical practice, Ron and Etta, together with the Schlegel family formed a formidable team bringing to life the innovative concept of a continuum of care at Winston Park. It is very fitting that Ron spent his last weeks in the care of the Winston Park team. He enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and sharing fond memories with friends and past-colleagues there.
For the exceptional care Ron received over the last months, we would like to thank the teams at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, Home and Community Care/CarePartners and The Village of Winston Park.
Ron will be sadly missed by Etta and family, his many friends, colleagues and extended family members in Scotland. He was devoted to his family, a most calm and wise adviser to many, an avid reader and history buff and always up for fun and adventure whether on the Scottish country dance floor, a tennis court, climbing a Scottish mountain, enjoying a cruise, a snowmobile in Haliburton or a fishing boat in Sanibel.
He was loved and respected by everyone whose life he touched. His was truly a life well-lived and for that we will be eternally thankful and proud.
In the spirit of Ron’s passion for innovative health care, donations in Ron’s memory to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) or St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation would be appreciated and may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home.