Dr Stanley Basil Briggs, 1940–2020

Stan passed away peacefully at home with his best friend, confident, colleague, and wife, Dr Jean Mercer, by his side.

Stan was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where he completed his formal years of school. Following graduation, with his 6 ft 10 in frame, he was scouted by the University of Idaho with a scholarship to play basketball. His basketball career was shortened by injury.

He returned to the University of Saskatchewan, where he completed his MD in 1967. At the time, the University of Saskatchewan Medical School had the smallest enrollment in North America. The student-to-professor ratio was close to one to one. He had an excellent basic medical education, which stood him well throughout his career as a primary care physician.

Stan interned at the Royal Columbian Hospital, followed by a long career in White Rock. Most of those years were spent with Hilltop Medical Clinic where he was one of the original six physicians in that group. Stan practised full-service family practice, including hospital privileges. Besides delivering babies, he worked in the ER, assisted in the OR, and cared for his patients on the medical wards. Stan was an active member of the hospital staff committees, also participating in the hospital board before regionalization. With his tall stature came a very gentle demeanor and a heart of gold. He was loved by his patients, staff, and colleagues.

Despite his basketball career ending early, Stan’s enthusiasm for the sport never faltered. March Madness was etched in stone as a must in his life. His love for the Saskatchewan Roughriders was never in question, and he was part of the great green-and-white wave at BC Lions games. He never forgot his Saskatchewan roots.

Stan also loved the water; a swimming pool or ocean waves were never far from his recreational rests. And he loved travel; he enjoyed experiencing a significant portion of the world on his explorations.

Stan’s love of life, appreciation of close friendships, and dedication to the medical community was a paramount quality. He will be missed by his many friends and colleagues in Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Ontario, Australia, and British Columbia.

In addition to his wife of 32 years, Dr Jean Mercer, he leaves to mourn his children, Shannon and Blair (Caroline), and grandchildren, Mikaela and Nathan. He is entitled to be proud of all of them.

In lieu of flowers, Stan would appreciate donations to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation in his memory.
—Grant Gibbings, MD
White Rock