Obituary of John Keith Todd

December 11, 1932 – Newcastle, England

April 18, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John (Keith) Todd, M.D., F.R.C. Path., of Calgary, AB, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the age of 91 years.

Keith graduated from University of Durham Medical School (UK) in 1956, majoring in Pathology. He served in the Ghana Army as Officer i/c Pathology at the Military Hospital, Accra, and was a Research Fellow for the Muscular Dystrophy Group, then a Lecturer in Chemical Pathology, both at the University of London. He came to Calgary in 1966 to the General Hospital (now demolished), and then moved to Foothills Hospital in 1969 as Chief, Division of Chemical Pathology. He ended up as Director of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Foothills Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor for the University of Calgary. After a dozen years in these positions, he retired on March 19, 1997.

On his retirement, Keith was asked by Dr. Peter Cruse to participate in the History of Medicine course and take the class on Renaissance Physicians. He was involved with this course for several years, with a strong personal interest in the Renaissance Period, and a variety of historical subjects related to his working field of laboratory medicine. He found this involvement with the elective course in the History of Medicine a rewarding way to end his long career.

His particular interest in laboratory automation provided him the opportunity to make a dozen or so visits to Japan, where laboratory automation was well-developed, and with his wife Jane, they visited many places from Hokkaido to Kyushu, making some fine friends on the way. His dear wife passed away on January 6, 2015, leaving Keith with their two sons, Dennis and Kenneth, as great companions and supports.

A private service has already been held.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Keith’s family here.

In living memory of Keith Todd, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.