We are saddened to announce the peaceful passing of Roger on November 9th in France, not long after his 88th birthday. He was predeceased years ago by his parents, James and Olwen (Edwards-Harris). His beloved wife, Marie-José Dealberto, was by his side in his final days.
Roger will be deeply missed by his wife and her family in France, his brother Bill, his three children Lynn, Michael, and Kathy, his two grandsons Jacob Larocque and Ross Broughton, many cousins, nieces and nephew and their families, as well as by many friends and former colleagues around the world.
A proud graduate of two universities (MD from Queens and PhD from McGill), Roger spent most of his professional life in research and teaching at the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital. He was a globally recognized pioneer in the development of sleep research, establishing the first sleep clinic in Canada, and one of the earliest in the world. He remained its director until his retirement in 2006, when he was appointed Professor Emeritus of Neurology and Neuroscience.
Roger was a founding member of the Sleep Research Society, the World Association of Sleep Medicine, and the Canadian Sleep Society (CSS). In 2003 the CSS created the "Roger Broughton Young Investigator Award." Throughout his professional life Roger wrote many ground-breaking papers and books and gave presentations at numerous international conferences. He received many awards, including the Career Investigator Award 1968-1997 from the Medical Research Council (later called the Canadian Institute for Health Research), and the Dr. J. Grimes Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. His last award was given in Berlin in 2021 by the European Union Narcolepsy Network for his work on narcolepsy.
Roger led a very active life outside of his professional work. He loved to travel, especially in his two catamarans, sailing them for 20 years from the Bahamas throughout the Caribbean. He was an active sportsman, enjoying swimming, tennis and skiing. For many years he studied and painted in watercolours, giving many treasured works to his family and friends.
In 2013 he and Marie-José moved to France to be close to her mother and they settled in Lyons where Roger had a very active social life. He made new friends, sang in a choir, continued swimming, resumed painting watercolors, and enjoyed local restaurants. He passed away in Vallon Pont d'Arc, Marie Jo's birth village, where the family still has a farm after 300 years. A funeral was held in Vallon on November 13. A celebration of life will take place in Ottawa in the spring of 2025.
Roger lived a life of passion, creativity, joy and adventure. His biggest wish would be that you do the same.
If you are so inclined, a donation in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or a charity of your choice.