Ian Hallam Plenderleith

With profound sadness and sense of loss we announce the passing of Dr. Ian H. Plenderleith at 97 at his home in Vancouver. He had a brilliant mind, was a passionate naturalist, conservationist and loving a son, husband, father and grandfather.

Ian was born to Florence and Donald Plenderleith on June 23, 1929. Ian is survived by his son, Donald (Estelle) and daughter, Jean, grandsons Antoine, Simon, Zakary and Angus as well as his many friends.

He had an active early life and even at a young age had a great passion for plants, animals, insects, reptiles and the great outdoors. He obtained his medical degree from George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC in 1958, where he met and fell in love with Phyllis Johnson, a young medical laboratory technologist. They married in June 1958 after Ian’s graduation, before their friends and classmates disbursed. They enjoyed sixty-six years of wedded bliss before Phyllis passed away in January, 2025.

Ian and Phyllis moved to Canada in 1960 to take up medical residency in Montreal, and continued his training in Toronto, London UK, Ottawa, and then moved with their young son and daughter to Vancouver in 1966 and never left. Ian trained as a Hematologist but further specialized as an Oncologist when that was an embryonic specialty. He joined the BC Cancer Institute, as it was then called, when there were just half a dozen doctors, and saw it through many years of expansion and increasing sophistication of care, even taking a turn as Head of Medical Oncology at the Cancer Control Agency of BC. Ian loved his work and mentored many colleagues. Over his career he was awarded several awards, including the David W. Bachop award for his outstanding contribution to health care in British Columbia. Ian retired in January 1994.

In his retirement Ian and Phyllis had time to pursue their many other interests. They loved gardening (especially Alpine flowers), birding, hiking and travelling. Together they visited, among other places, the Dolomites, Australia, the Baltic countries, the Big Horn and Beartooth mountains.

In January 2008, Phyllis suffered a severe stroke, and Ian took over her care, first at home with adaptations, then at an assisted living facility and latterly at a long-term care facility that was a short walk from his assisted living facility. He ensured that she was well cared for until the day she died in January 2025.

Even as his own health declined his mind was still active and inquisitive. Ian chose to die with medical assistance. He was loved by all who met him.