Dr Eric Carl Hillerns Lehmann
1921—2008
Eric died at 86 and found his peace. He is survived by his loving wife and companion of nearly 55 years—Patti B., daughter Gillian (Mike), son Kevin, and grandson Daniel. He was predeceased by his brother Dr Peter Lehmann and sister Dr Elsa Lehmann.
Eric was born in Winnipeg. He graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School in 1945 and did a rotating internship at Toronto General Hospital in 1946 and then in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. One year was spent teaching in the Department of Anatomy at UBC. Specialty training took place at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital in Exeter, England.
He then returned to Vancouver with a new bride in 1952 and began practice with Dr A.S. McConkey (Mac)—a partnership that lasted 27 years. Eric served as consultant at Children’s Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital, where he was division head of orthopaedics from 1973–1980.
He was a career-long member of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association and the North Pacific Orthopaedic Association, for which he served a term as president. Of his many achievements, Eric is credited with the beginning of the neonatal congenital hip dislocation surveillance program in British Columbia.
He retired in 1989 to pursue his interests of travel with wife Pat, reading, and gardening. He had a passion for tennis with a wide circle of friends and associates.
Dr Lehmann will be remembered as a great raconteur. At a gathering he had a story or a personal memory for each guest. It was as if he had the guest list in advance. He spoke eloquently and with erudition. As a teacher he provided well-considered, carefully crafted approaches to clinical problems—always a wise counsel. He had great respect, compassion, and time for his grateful patients.
Despite disability in his final years, he was a glowing light, a source of inspiration, and a model of the gentleman that he was.
Eric is greatly missed but his earthly message remains in our hearts and minds.
—J. Patrick McConkey, MD
Squamish