Dr. Bencosme was born in Montecristi, Dominican Republic on April 27, 1920. He moved to Canada in 1944, where he obtained his medical degree from Université de Montreal in 1947. Later, at McGill University, he received a master’s degree in 1948 and his PhD in 1950. Subsequently, Dr. Bencosme worked in various universities (University of Ottawa, Queen’s, UCLA) before returning to Queen’s as a tenured professor of pathology, 1965-1977.

At Queen’s, he distinguished himself as a researcher and experimental pathologist using the cutting edge tools of that time, such as electron microscopy, histochemistry, immunochemistry and radioimmunoassay. During this time, he and his collaborators produced seminal work in the fields of pancreatic islets, kidney, gastrointestinal endocrine cells, and atrial natriuretic factor pathobiology and pathology. This extensive body of work found outlet in more than 160 publications, mostly in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and resulted in the PhD theses of his graduate students who included, among others: Juan Lechago and Adolfo de Bold.

After retiring from Queen’s, in 1977, Dr. Bencosme returned to his native Dominican Republic, where he had a successful career as educator, policy-maker and researcher, publishing an additional 150 papers dealing with a multitude of subjects and issues which span from pathology to the transfer of technology between developed and developing countries and his reflections on ethics concerning modern science. Furthermore, between 1987 and 1993 he was the Director of the Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. He received the National Award of Sciences from the National Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic. There were many other awards for sure, but more importantly he was recognized in his country as one of the foremost scientific personalities for the creation of research institutions, and his valuable scientific work in UNPHU( with generous aid from the Canadian International Development Agency) and Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra as well as the Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez.

Dr. Bencosme was a talented man who displayed dedication and discipline in his work. He lived a full life and will be remembered, both at Queen’s University and Dominican universities for his many contributions to science, certainly, but also for the inspiration he was able to give his students and collaborators some of whom were able to further develop his original ideas and are now internationally renowned scientists in their own right.

A long-time friend and supporter of the Agnes, Dr. Kaufman created the Rita Friendly Kaufman Fund in honour of his wife, a passionate advocate of art education. The Fund has made possible a popular annual lecture series and, most recently, allowed us to offer a week-long immersive studio program for children.

Those wishing to make a donation in his memory may contribute to the Dr. Nathan Kaufman Service-Learning Fund at Queen's University to assist medical and health-sciences students to engage in community service to learn about the importance of justice and equity when working with vulnerable populations. https://www.givetoqueens.ca/nathankaufman

Peacefully at The Wenleigh Long Term Care Residence after a long life well-lived. He is survived by his two children, Bill (Janet) and Heather (John Bailey), two grandsons, Craig (Anne) and Scott (Kristin) and five great grand-children, Justin, Owen, Mason, Ayla and Raya. He was predeceased by his wife, Mac, in December 2005 after 62 years of marriage and his brother, Boyd, in December 1984.

Bud was born in Pembroke on Sept. 12, 1915. He graduated from Queen’s University in 1939 with a MDCM degree. After an internship and residency, he spent one year as the Asst. Pathologist at the Grey Nuns Hospital and Regina General Hospital (1943) and two years as Director of Laboratories at these hospitals (1944-46). He decided then to take further studies at McGill University (1946-48) earning an MSc. Two more years were spent in post-graduate work at Duke University. In 1950, he became the Director of Laboratories at Kingston General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Pathology at Queen’s University. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1982 and was made an honorary member of the medical staff at Kingston General Hospital. For a number of years, he was a Consultant Pathologist at Hotel Dieu, Cdn. Forces and St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospitals in Kingston.

Bud served as the President of the Ontario Assoc. of Pathologists (1968-69) and the Cdn. Assoc. of Pathologists (1969-70). At the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, he served as Chairman of Consultant Pathologists (1973-80) and on the Advisory Medical Board (1977-83). At Queen’s he was a member of the Senate, Chairman of Admissions to the Medical School (1964-1975), Chairman of the Committee for “Seed-funds for Research”, and a member of other Committees. In recognition of his many achievements, Bud was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal from the Canadian Government in 1978.

Bud was a keen cribbage player and won his last game on March 11 and, after over 200 games played, won the family cribbage championship in 2014. For over 60 years, he was a member of the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston. Classical music and reading were also important throughout his life.

Professor Emeritus, of the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry at Queen's University, Kingston.

Husband; father, Zaida, brother, uncle, and scientist.

Died peacefully in his sleep, at home. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 51 years Barbara, his children David (Sara Haynes), Sandy (Andy Krull), Natasha (Peter Reid), grandchildren Nathaniel & Claudia Krull and Emily & James Kisilevsky, sisters Zipporah (Alan Yedid) and Laurie (Allan Bultz), nephews Gabriel (Jing), Joseph, Elijah, and Ariel (Koo), and grandnieces Bessia and Olivia.

A private family service will be held on Sunday, June 9th, 2019 at 3:30 p.m., Kearney Funeral Services, 450 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver B.C.

Bob was born and raised in Montreal. He completed his undergraduate (1958) and medical degrees (1962) at McGill University. He interned at the Jewish General Hospital and then spent a year in Philadelphia as a Pathology resident before entering the combined Pathology residency/Phd in Biochemistry Program at the University of Pittsburgh.

After completing the program (1967), he spent a year fellowship in Experimental Pathology at University College London, UK. Subsequently, he returned to Canada as an Assistant Professor in both the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, Queen's University in Kingston, ON, focusing on research. Bob progressed through the ranks from Assistant to Full Professor to Head of the Department of Pathology. Driven by his intellect and curiosity, and continuous funding by the MRC of Canada for 40 years, he established an internationally recognized research program and became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

He published over 300 papers, book chapters and abstracts in the areas of protein synthesis, amyloidosis, cholesterol metabolism and malaria, and founded two biotechnology companies, Neurochem & AtheroChem.

Following his retirement from research and medical practice, his goal was to stay alive and productive for many years, to continue to collaborate and publish scientific material, to see grandchildren, and to carve some walking sticks and use them before he went. He did all of those things, as well as ride his bicycle daily, create beautiful decorative wood carvings, and play a formidable game of chess.

Donations in his memory may be made to The Robert Kisilevsky Research Education Fund, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON.

Dr. David Murray Robertson graduated with an MD from Queen's University, Kingston, ON, in 1955 and was awarded the WW and Susan Near Prize for the second highest standing throughout the six year medical course. He trained in General Pathology at Kingston General Hospital and subsequently undertook fellowship training in research and diagnostic neuropathology at the National Hospital, Queen's Square in London, England and at Duke University Medical School, NC. He achieved FRCP (C) specialty qualification in General Pathology in 1960 and in Neuropathology in 1968. He eventually also became a Diplomat of the American Board of Pathology in both Anatomical Pathology and Neuropathology (1977).

In 1962, following completion of his neuropathology training at Duke, Dr. Robertson returned to Kingston to assume his first academic and hospital appointments as Assistant Professor of Pathology (Neuropathology) at Queen's University and as a Neuropathologist at Kingston General and Hotel Dieu Hospitals. He became an Associate Professor in 1967, Professor in 1969, and from 1979 to 1986, he was Head of the Department of Pathology at Queen's University. During his Headship, he held the concurrent appointment as Pathologist-in-Chief at Kingston General Hospital.

Dr. Robertson had a successful career as an academic neuropathologist. He published extensively, generating approximately 100 publications over the course of his career, and was recognized internationally for the quality of his research. In 1976, he receive the Weil Award in Experimental Neuropathology from the American Association of Neuropathologists, He was also a member of the Editorial Board of Laboratory Investigation, the pre-eminent experimental pathology journal, from 1970 to 1994 and he was its Associate Editor from 1972 to 1975.

Dr Robertson held numerous leadership positions in national and North American organizations. He was President of the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists (1971-73), President of the Intersociety Council of Laboratory Medicine of Canada (1973-74), President of the Canadian Association of Pathologists (1974-75), Vice President of the United States/Canadian Division of the International Academy of Pathology (1982-84) and President of the organization from 1984-85.

During his career, Dr. Robertson was responsible for establishing the Neuropathology Division in the Department of Pathology as a highly successful and internationally recognized academic unit. Following the completion of his Headship of the Department of Pathology in 1986, he became the Vice President (Medical) of Kingston General Hospital, a position he held from 1986 to 1992, and then completed a two year term as Medical Director of Kingston General Hospital. He subsequently acted as Special Advisor to the President of Kingston General Hospital. Since his retirement from the Department of Pathology, he has held the rank of Professor Emeritus.