George Karpati, MD, FRCP(C), FRS(C), OC
Irving Heller meant many things to many people. He was an
exceptionally talented and dutiful doctor to thousands of patients. He was a
distinguished professor for the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital and
McGill University, where he was also a cherished colleague to his fellow
neurologists and professors. Furthermore, he was a highly valued teacher and
advisor of hundreds of students and residents. As well, he was a devoted
family man. These are the reasons for which Irving is mourned and missed
by multitudes of people who have been beneficiaries of his travails during
a long carrier. These are the reasons that in the hall for his memorial
service, space was not available for many people. Special mention is to be
made about Irving's second career, which he cultivated with fervor and excellence.
He became a self-taught scholar of the Old Testament of the Bible,
and became a knowledgeable professor in this field at McGill.
Another noteworthy item is Irving's special sense of humor and wit, even though
it was often sharp and not always flattering to everybody. Irving's humor
has lead to the survival of several "hellerisms". One of the more noteworthy
of these is the advice that he gave to people with a problem: "Life is a
fatal disease".
Irving had a rich life, even though he had to defeat with dignity several major diseases after his retirement. He was respected and admired throughout his career and will be missed.
Words from the EditorDr. Denis Melançon
A Bonsai Tree