Obituary of Henrik O. Tonning

Tonning, Dr. Henrik O. MD, FRCPC, FACP. … The death of Dr. Henrik O. Tonning, husband of the late, Wanda (Giberson) Tonning, of Saint John, NB, occurred at his residence on Saturday, October 27, 2007. Born in Stavanger, Norway on June 20, 1917, he was a son of the late Henrik F. and Olga (Jorstad) Tonning. Dr. Tonning immigrated to Blacks Harbour, NB with his family in 1929. He attended school in Blacks Harbour and subsequently went on to Dalhousie University where he obtained his Medical Degree in 1943. During his studies there he was awarded the Kellogg Foundation Scholarship and won a prize for the highest standing in Histology and Pathology. During the Second World War he enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served in Canada and Overseas as a captain in the Medical Corps until 1946. On his return to Canada he worked for a year at the D.V.A. Hospital, Lancaster, NB and carried on a private practice in Saint John. Thereafter, he proceeded on the postgraduate work in the Department of Pathology at the Banting Institute in Toronto, followed by clinical medicine research at the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, the Lahey Clinic and the Mass. General Hospital, Boston, Mass. His studies at Mass. General Hospital were partially supported by a fellowship he received from the Canadian Arthritis Society. Dr. Tonning became a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1950, Certificant and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada a year later, and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1966. He returned to his practice in Saint John in 1952 in the specialty of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and in 1956 he was appointed Head of the Department of Medicine at the Lancaster D.V.A. Hospital. In 1966 he was appointed Head of the Department of Medicine at the Saint John General Hospital. He took an active part in the planning of the current Saint John Regional Hospital. In 1971, his dedication and commitment to medical education helped the Regional Hospital in obtaining an affiliation with Dalhousie University for the integrated Intern and Residency Program. He served as the Chief of Medicine at the Saint John Regional Hospital until June 30,1982. Dr. Tonning was instrumental in establishing the first clinic in rheumatic diseases in 1952 through the cooperation of the New Brunswick Division of the Arthritis Society and the generosity St. Joseph’s Hospital. Following retirement from the Saint John Regional Hospital, he then served as Deputy Director at the Canadian Red Cross Transfusion Service in Saint John until 1994. He was appointed as a Faculty Member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Student Honor Society, a member of the Canadian Medical Association, the New Brunswick Medical Association, the Canadian Arthritis Society, the Canadian Rheumatism Association, the American Rheumatism Association, the American College of Physicians, the Alumni Association of Lahey Clinic and the alumni of Harvard Medical School. He was an Associate and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University from 1954-1982. A listener, leader and visionary, he was respected for his administration skills and quiet diplomatic finesse. In 1982, his official retirement year, he was accorded the title, Man of the Year in Medicine by the Saint John Regional Hospital. Dr. Tonning’s contribution to the development of specialty medical services in N.B. and his leadership in medical education in the Saint John area were further recognized when in 1994 the University of New Brunswick awarded him an honorary degree of Doctor of Science Honoris Causa. In the same year he also received a Regional Award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons for his contributions to medicine in New Brunswick. In 1996 he was made a senior member of the Canadian Medical Society. In 2000, he was designated a Laureate by the American College of Physicians, Atlantic Region, being the first New Brunswick doctor to receive such an award. Less than a month ago, Dr. Tonning endowed a scholarship fund to the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation to support new Brunswick students in their medical educational studies in this Province. This endowment continues his decade’s long commitment to the establishment of an advanced medical educational facility in New Brunswick. Dr. Tonning was active in numerous professional associations and social groups throughout saint John and the Maritimes. He was an accomplished fly fisherman and loved cross-country skiing. Over the years he enjoyed curling, sailing and bird hunting. Married in 1944, Dr. Tonning was predeceased by his loving wife, Wanda Geraldine Giberson, RN from Bath, New Brunswick. Together with his wife, countless hours were spent enjoying the world of antiques. Their summer home and property on the Kingston Peninsula was one of their proudest treasures. Dr. and Mrs. Tonning were long standing members of the Anglican Church of Canada, Sharing and celebrating worship at both St. Paul’s Valley Church and St. Paul’s, Rothesay, NB. Dr. Tonning is survived by his two sons, Henrik (Jean) and Stephen, his three grandchildren, James (Amy), Kare and Henrik, one great-grandchild, Abigail and several nieces. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Daniel and his sister, Elizabeth. Resting at Brenan’s Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506-634-7424) with visiting on Monday and Tuesday from 2 … 4 and 7 … 9 pm. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 2:00pm from St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Rothesay, NB. In lieu of flowers, contributions could be made towards the Henrik and Wanda Tonning Medical Scholarship, c/o the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation or to a charity of the donor’s choice.