Dr. L. Martin Jerry

    Dr. L. Martin Jerry passed on March 21, 2023 in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Martin was raised and educated in Toronto at the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) and then as a physician at the University of Toronto where he was the gold medallist in his graduating year. He then trained as a specialist in internal medicine (FRCP(c), FACP) at the Toronto General Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. He then earned a PhD in biochemistry and immunology at the Rockefeller University in New York City returning to McGill University as assistant and then associate professor of medicine. Martin worked as a physician, scientist and Medical Research Council Scholar in a career in academic medicine specializing in clinical immunology and oncology.

   In 1977, he was recruited to Calgary to lead the establishment of Southern Alberta's cancer programs as the first Director of Calgary's Tom Baker Cancer Center, where, in addition to his administrative duties, he continued teaching as well as clinical and laboratory research activities in cancer immunology.

   In retirement, Martin retained his appointment as Professor of Oncology (Hon.) at the University of Calgary. He finished his career as the founding Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Cancer Control, consulting for five years to the World Health Organization on National Cancer Control Programming mainly in developing countries. He was also active in the Rotary Clubs of Calgary and Canmore in their international development projects.

   With his wife, Marian, Martin worked through the Division of International Development of the University of Calgary using funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Research Center (IDRC), and Rotary International to establish the Rural Development Institute at the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), now an academic Medical Centre near Dehradun, in the Garhwal region of the foothills of the Indian Himalayas.  The Institute delivers participatory primary healthcare to the surrounding villages. He also consulted to the establishment if its Cancer Research Institute.

   Martin studied and practised yoga since 1968 and was initiated into the tradition of Himalayan Masters. Along with Marian, they were students since 1980 of the late Swami Veda Bharati and disciples of the late H.H. Sri Swami Rama, with whom they studied directly under for 10 years in North America and in India. They were the founding teachers of the Foothills Yoga Society in Calgary and conducted exploratory clinical and laboratory research on the effects of meditation. After their retirement to Canmore, they maintained an active interest in the medical and psychological applications of yoga philosophy, psychology and practice, and co-authored three books on yoga science.

   Martin is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marian Jerry; their two sons, Prof. Dr. Paul (Leslie) Jerry and Rev. Dr. Marc (Marnie) Jerry; as well as three grandchildren, Maeghan, Mitchell and Carmen.

   A private gathering will be held at a later date to honour and celebrate the life of the late Dr. L. Martin Jerry.  Donations in memory may be directed to the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust - http://hihtindia.org/how-you-can-help/.  Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel assisting the family. (403) 562-8555.

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