Ron was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1938, son of Thomas Livingstone, businessman, and Elsie Livingstone, his lifelong partner and support.
Ron will be deeply missed by his wife Mary “Mae” Livingstone (Nee Girvin) and sons Gary and Ken (Kirsty). Also left to mourn are his sister Margaret Livingstone, nephew Tony and Lisa Livingstone-Clark and their children Malachi, Luca and Mia. Ron was predeceased by his father and mother, Thomas and Elsie Livingstone.
His early childhood up to the age of 12 was spent in two small Northern Ireland towns, Colerain and Limavady where his dad had cycle and motor cycle shops and his mom a small grocery store. Ron worked hard in his childhood and teen years to help his parents with their businesses. This is where he gained the work ethic that saw him through High School, University and Medical School, all of it achieved with flying colors. This was despite the fact that his education was disrupted by a two-year travel adventure to Australia from the ages of 12 to 14. It was an attempted immigration which was fun but did not quite work out. The family returned to Belfast in 1950 to set up a new business, start a new school and start a new life. A fortunate move, as this is where Ron met Mary (Mae) Girvin in Sunday school at their local Baptist Church at the age of 16. They have been together ever since.
Ron's medical education was at Queens University of Belfast where he graduated with an honors degree followed by specialty training and certifications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Soon after this Ron and Mae, now a registered nurse, decided to marry after an extended courtship.
Not satisfied with the accomplishments so far they decided to go for a 2-year post-graduate experience in Canada starting in 1969, with their two boys Gary and Kenneth. After political troubles and violence blew up in Northern Ireland Ron decided to stay in Winnipeg for the next 20 years punctuated by a 3-year hiatus in Texas, 6 months in Melbourne Australia and a further 6 months of world travels. In all these moves Ron carved out an enviable career in academic medicine as a clinician, teacher and researcher. Ending up in Toronto in 1988 he finally put down roots securing positions as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Toronto General, Co-Chief at Mount Sinai, medical education professor at University of Toronto and chief Examiner- Obstetrics at Gynecology at the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada.
He reluctantly retired from the practice he loved at the age of 76. Despite his reluctance to retire he secretly conceded he didn't really miss it all that much.
In all this he found the time to be a wonderful husband to Mae and role model to his two boys.
Well done and a life well lived.