Doug Geekie
August 14, 1993

Douglas Albert Geekie – Peacefully at the Riverside Hospital (Ottawa), on Saturday, August 14, 1993, in his 63rd year. Much loved husband of Mary Lou (Steele) and devoted father of Susan McCann (Tom), Shari Geekie (Steve), and Shawn Moreau (Marc). Survived by three joygiving grandchildren, Christopher McCann, Nicole Moreau and Desmond Knight. Also survived by brother, James Geekie and family of Dundas, Ontario. Predeceased by father, William Geekie and mother, Mabel Geekie (Graham) and sister, Audrey Dillman.

Doug retired in December, 1991 after 25 years with the Canadian Medical Association as Director of Communications and Government Relations. Prior to that he spent 8 years as Executive Director with the British Columbia T.B. Association in Vancouver. On graduation from the University of Toronto he was employed at Wellington County Health Unit as Health Educator.

He will be sadly missed by family and friends.

Resting at the Tubman Funeral Home, Westboro Chapel, 403 Richmond Road, Ottawa, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday to St. John’s Cemetery, South March for interment.

In memoriam donations to the Ottawa Carleton Lung Association or the Heart Institute would be appreciated.

Pictures from the 1957 programme “Medical Library” which was produced, written and hosted by Doug Geekie.

Doug Geekie pushed MDs to speak out

Doug Geekie, the Canadian Medical Association’s official spokesperson for 25 years, died Saturday in Ottawa. He was 62.

During his long tenure as the front man for Canada’s 44,000 practitioners, Mr. Geekie saw a lot of changes.

When he took early retirement two years ago at the age of 60, Mr. Geekie looked back over his career with the medical association and ruminated on some of them.

At the time, he said, “I can recall where there were no women on the board of directors. The board members were all in their 60s. It was an old boy’s club. I’d say that the CMA has moved from being a Family Compact club to an organization that is younger and more business like.”

Mr. Geekie also saw in the 25 years he was with the association, the percentage of smoking physicians drop to 8 per cent from 53 per cent.

Lucian Blair, Mr. Geekie’s assistant for eight years who succeeded him when he retire, said Mr. Geekie’s biggest contributation was convincing doctors that lobbying is not a dirty word as stressing the importance of being more open with the media.

“Doug brought them around to the view that, if the profession was to survive politically, it was going to have to get involved in politics.” said Blair.

Marilyn Dunlop, The Star’s recently retired medical reporter of 25 years, knew Mr. Geekie as a professional and as a friend.

“You could call Doug up anytime. He had an incredible knowledge of Canada’s health care system. He would give you leads, guide you and clarify your thinking on whatever medical issue you were writing about,” said Dunlop.

Mr. Geekie, the son of a hotelier, was born in Ottawa. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1954 with a public health education degree. He joined the medical association in 1966.

He leaves his wife, Mary, three daughters and three grandchildren.

Toronto Star – Thursday, August 19, 1993