Dr. Charles Hope

Dr. Charles Edward Hope, most recently of Peterborough, Ontario, passed away on April 3rd, 2022, from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 83. At the time of his death, he was cared for by the exceptional staff from Canterbury Garden’s Enriched Care Floor and his wife and daughter.

Charles was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1938. He was the only child of his now deceased parents, James Hope and Helen Fraser (Edinburgh, Scotland). He is survived by his wife Anne (Olsen), his three children and their partners ((Andrew and Jana Hope and her son David), Penny Hope and Brett Barnes, Angus and Tara Hope); his 8 grandchildren; Charles-Louis Hope, Adele Hope, George Hope, Jeanne Hope, Olivia Hope, Angus Hope Jr., Alec d’Entremont and Isaac d’Entremont, as well as his much-loved great granddaughter Sofia (a redhead like himself).

Charles was raised and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland. While he was in school, Charles was known for his running ability as well as his love of cacti and succulents. He was awarded several prizes for these hobbies as well as for his academic success. He was a gifted pianist and very proud of being the organist at his local Presbyterian church. It was here that he met his future wife, Anne.

Charles studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He graduated with his MB.ChB. in 1962. He developed an interest in anesthesiology as he was completing his general medical residency. In 1968, Charles undertook postgraduate research training at the Royal College of Surgeons under the direction of Dr J. P. Payne, who was BOC Research professor in Anaesthesia. The research topic was “The Introduction of Computer Science into Medicine”. During his five years at the college, he had a particular interest and success in the development of Plethysmography.

Charles was recruited by Dr, Gordon Wyant to the University of Saskatchewan as research professor, but soon thereafter was asked to fill Dr. Wyant’s position as chair in the University Hospital’s Department of Anaesthesia. It was his love of research that led to him and his family moving to Canada in 1973.

After four years of clinical leadership, Charles was enticed into returning to research, and in 1978 he accepted a Research Professorship at Dalhousie University in Halifax under Dr. Emerson Moffit. There was a desperate shortage of critical care physicians in Halifax at the time, and Dr. Hope self-trained to focus on critical care and neurological specialization, as well as undertaking his research and general anesthesia. Upon the resignation of Dr. Moffit, with some hesitation and much arm twisting, Charles accepted the position of Professor and Chair of the Department. He worked at Dalhousie University as well as what was then the Victoria General Hospital.

Dr. Hope was known to staff and students as someone who took exceptional care of his patients. He was determined to raise the quality of medical practice in his area.

Within a short period of being at Dalhousie, he had founded a sub-specialty of neurosurgical anesthesia, consolidated critical care, arranged research fellowships for Dr. Richard Hall and Dr Orlando Hung, and clinical fellowships for Dr. Des Writer and Dr. Michael Murphy, all of whom were launched on internationally recognized careers. He recruited Dr. Jose Rosales for the development of pediatric anesthesia in Halifax, and he recruited Dr. Colin Davies for the development of an academic department at the Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick. During his 13 years as Chair of Anesthesia at Dalhousie, Charles was a very effective leader and champion of all aspects of anesthesia in the Province of Nova Scotia. He was highly active within the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Anesthesiologists Society. Locally, he was very much involved in developing computerization and the linking of three clinical departments (Radiology, Anaesthesiology, and Cardiology) to the Dalhousie ethernet. He retired from this position in 1998.

Charles returned to his first love and undertook two, single year research sabbaticals: at McGill University, and back home in Biophysics at Dalhousie. He was particularly interested in a study on electrocardiographic manifestation of transient ischemia during balloon-inflation angioplasty, and in computer programming.

Charles was well appreciated across the community of Dalhousie. He did it all; clinical medicine, technology, research, mentorship, and advocacy. As a past colleague noted:

“As Department Head he showed all the character of a great leader. He was respected by all the other heads of department and positioned our department prominently within the hospital structure. (He was) a decisive (and) fair person who dealt with difficult internal situations that many would have shied away from. Overall, he was an inspiration and a person to aim to emulate. I always appreciated his counsel and friendship.”

Charles was not overtly social; however, he enjoyed dancing with his wife, and growing a variety of vegetables, succulents, and flowers. After he retired, he and his wife became involved in the local ballroom dance club as well as the historical society in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. His travels across North America, parts of Europe, Great Britain and New Zealand were all documented as he was an avid photographer.

Charles and Anne moved to Peterborough four years ago in 2018 when Charles’ Alzheimer’s Disease was no longer manageable. Over the past three years Charles needed additional care. He went into an enriched care environment at Canterbury Gardens where he spent his final two years being cared for by Anne, his family and the dedicated staff.

Although Alzheimer’s Disease changed him in many ways, he remained interested in the people around him and was loved by the medical staff, with whom he still believed, he worked.

He will be missed by many.

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Society in lieu of flowers.

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