Dr Richard Wadge, 1946–2018

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 60, No. 9, November 2018, Page 460 Obituaries
By: Alex Wadge

Dr Richard Wadge

Dr Richard (Rick) Wadge (UBC class of 1970) practised family medicine in the Surrey/Delta region for 37 years. During his lengthy tenure as a family doctor, Rick was devoted to his patients, providing care in nursing homes, making house calls, and delivering over 1000 babies. His compassion, sense of humor, and ability to focus on an individual gave him a personal touch that endeared him as an exemplary doctor to his many patients. Rick clearly enjoyed his career, which saw him help thousands of people, and often spoke about how fortunate it was to be a physician.

After retiring from office practice, Rick, a clinical associate professor, increased his involvement with the UBC School of Medicine, accepting a teaching position with the university where he taught students how to communicate and how to properly conduct physical and sensitive examinations. Rick enjoyed teaching as much as he loved practising medicine, and many of the qualities that made him such a great doctor made him an equally exceptional teacher. Rick loved working with the patient simulation actors and always spoke of them with the highest praise. He was also the chief examiner for the LMCC.

Rick was happily married to his wife Mavourneen for 50 years and together they were blessed with four children: Jeff (Sara), Patrick (Zan), Joy (Remo), and Chantal (Avassa). His eight grandchildren loved him dearly and he was an amazing “Bompa” to them all.

Rick faced his ALS diagnosis with unflinching courage, and when the time came he exercised his right to die on his own terms, in his own home, with his wife by his side and surrounded by his family.
—Alex Wadge
Sechelt, BC

Alex Wadge. Dr Richard Wadge, 1946–2018. BCMJ, Vol. 60, No. 9, November, 2018, Page(s) 460 - Obituaries.


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Ruth Shepard says: reply

I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of Dr Wadge. He was a wonderful doctor and person in general. He was kind and caring, and a great loss to all who had the pleasure to know him.

He taught my family many things in the years that we knew him. He is the reason I was able to have 3 wonderful children. Without his belief in the testing being wrong and asking for a second opinion, I would not have my kids. He taught us to advocate for ourselves in medical appointments and for our loved ones.

I wish I could have thanked him so many times for all that he did for us.

He is surely missed by all who knew him.

Thank you Dr Wadge for all you taught me and for your belief in me. You were a very special man

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