OSCAR SAM KOFMAN
MD, FRCPC, FACP
Dr. Oscar Kofman died at home on Friday, June 15, 2012, at the age 89 after a long illness. He is survived by his beloved wife and partner in life H. Joyce Kofman (née Frankel) with whom he shared an extraordinary 62 year marriage of adventure and love. He leaves behind four children who, with their partners, adored him: Barbara (Ted Percival), Betsy (John Bascom), Jim (Elske Kofman), Jeffrey (Michael Levine) of London, England. There was a very special place in his heart for his six grandchildren: Samantha and Graeme Ash, Michael and Dr. Karen Bascom, and Joshua and Gregory Kofman. He was predeceased by sister Virginia Kane, and brothers David and Dr. Sydney Kofman. Oscar Kofman was fast-tracked through medicine at the University of Toronto during W.W.II and went on to do Post-Graduate studies in neurology in Philadelphia and London, England. He returned to Toronto in 1951 as one of the first five fully-trained neurologists in Canada. He established the neurology services at Mt. Sinai Hospital and later Scarborough General while simultaneously serving on the neurological staff of The Toronto General Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children. In a 50-year career that paralleled the growth of neurology he conducted seminal studies of treatments for Parkinson's Disease and two major studies on the impact of mercury poisoning on native populations in Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec. In his more than 40 years of teaching he was one of the longest- serving faculty members in the history of the University of Toronto School of Medicine. He served as Chief Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and was elected to four terms on the Governing Council of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons. While he was dedicated to his career, he made it very clear that his family was his most significant legacy. He lived every minute of every day of his life to the fullest and days before he died he told his family he was content. Services were held on Sunday. Visitation Monday (5 - 9 p.m.) at 82 Woodlawn Ave. W. Memorial donations may be made to The Parkinson's Society of Canada 1-800-565-3000 or to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario 1-888-473-4636.