Obituary of Russell Duncan Webster

Dr. Russell D. Webster of Rothesay, husband of Judi (Baldwin) Webster, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, August 11, 2013. Born in Saint John on November 6, 1940, he was a son of the late Verner and Marion (Barker) Webster, growing up in the north end. Dr. Webster was a Queen Scout through Scouts Canada in his younger days and a graduate of Saint John High School where he served as student council president. He went on to graduate from Mount Allison University, and later Dalhousie University from where he attained his M.D. in 1966. From 1959 until 1969, he served with the Canadian Armed Forces and as an officer from 1962 to 1969. He completed his internships at the Halifax Children’s Hospital, the Prince Edward Island Hospital, and the Victoria General Hospital. He received medical licenses from Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta, and New Brunswick. His post-graduate studies led him to the Grace Maternity Hospital in Halifax and then the Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital for Women in London, England. Subsequently he returned to his home in Saint John where he practiced obstetrics, welcoming many members of our community into this world. He became a member of the Staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Saint John Regional Hospital in 1975, becoming Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St. Joseph’s Hospital from 1978 to 1984, and the Saint John Regional Hospital from 1985 to 1999. He shared his expertise, teaching at Dalhousie University as Assistant Professor from 1974 until 1985 when he was named Associate Professor. He was named Associate Professor with Memorial University in 2003. His professional memberships included the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, the Saint John Medical Society, the Canadian Medical Association, the Atlantic Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where he served as Secretary Treasurer and as President, and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada, where he served as the Atlantic Region Representative. In his spare time, Dr. Webster enjoyed sailing, being a member of the Royal Kennebecassis Yacht Club, and sailed around the Virgin Islands more than 30 times. He was a social member of the Riverside Golf and Country Club, but more than anything, was an extraordinary husband, father and grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, colleague and friend. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. In addition to his wife of 25 years, Dr. Webster is survived by his children, Allyson Webster (Geoff Bagnall) of Oakville, ON, Andrea Scott (Tracy) of Saint John, Duncan Webster (Anita) of Quispamsis, Maegan George (Robbie) of Rothesay, and Erin Skinner of Quispamsis; grandchildren Noah, Tara, Joseph, Cailey, Carrington, Brody, Thomas, Maria, Tessa, Jameson, Linkin, Addison, Lily, and Harrison; mother-in-law Joan Baldwin; brothers Jack Webster (Sandra) of Fredericton and Richard Webster of Saint John; cousin Arline Winters and several brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, with visiting on Wednesday, August 14, 2013from 2pm to 8pm. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 11am from Grace Presbyterian Church, 101 Coburg Street. For those who wish, remembrances to Foundation Glycosylation "the FoG" through the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family, in lieu of flowers. Online condolences and remembrances may be placed at www.BrenansFH.com.