Obituary of PETER EDWARD SWERHONE

PETER EDWARD SWERHONE It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of our father, Peter Edward Swerhone on July 24, 2016. Peter is missed by his wife Genevieve, his children Lorna (Niels Giddins); Danielle; Michelle (Gerry Hagglund); Edward (Christine Finlay); and Patricia (Tami Waters). He is also survived by his three grandsons Daniel Hagglund, Jack and Nicholas Swerhone. Born the eighth child of Maria and Daniel Swerhone, he spent his formative years in Canora, Saskatchewan. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan receiving his Bachelor of Commerce degree. With the encouragement of his brother Bill, he pursued Graduate Studies in Hospital Administration at the University of Toronto. On one of his trips home to Canora he met Genevieve Miller to whom he was married to for over 59 years. Upon the completion of his program in Toronto he was invited by Dr. L. O. Bradley to fulfill his residency requirement at the Calgary General Hospital. The meeting was fortuitous as Dr. Bradley became a life-long mentor and friend. Peter then accepted his first job at the Notre Dame Hospital in North Battleford as Assistant Administrator for 18 months. With his young family in tow, he then moved to Winnipeg as Assistant Executive Director at the Winnipeg General Hospital with Dr. Bradley. In 1967 he assumed the position of the Executive Director of the Winnipeg General Hospital. During his tenure there, he spearheaded the master plan that lead to the formation of the Health Sciences Centre. This was the first amalgamation of its kind in Canada. That same year Peter was appointed the first President of the new organization where he remained until he retired in 1985. Peter was also a very active member in the Winnipeg community. Of note was his commitment and involvement with the Holy Family Nursing Home where he served as Chairman of the Board from 1976 to 1978. In 1981 he was made an honourary life member. He has received numerous awards and honours, including the City of Winnipeg Outstanding Achievement award, the Gold Medal from the American College of Hospital Administrators and the President’s Achievement Award from the University of Toronto. After leaving the HSC, Peter directed the planning and organizing of the Northern Alberta Children’s Hospital in Edmonton for two years. He returned to Winnipeg to serve as the Executive Director for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba for the next five years and was awarded the Organization Achievement Award. Peter enjoyed life as a longtime resident of Winnipeg and spent many years at Victoria Beach where he enjoyed the beach, maintaining the cottage and picking berries. He had a great sense of humour and quick wit. All of us are immensely proud to have been his children. The family would like to thank the staff and Dr. A. Babick of the Holy Family Nursing Home for the outstanding care over the past few months. A mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 4588 Roblin Boulevard in Charleswood at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2016. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba or the Holy Family Nursing Home.