College Commemorations
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The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is saddened to hear of the death of several of our long-standing Retired Fellows and other great leaders within the surgical profession. We commemorate their service to healthcare and their patients, and offer our deepest sympathies to their family, friends and life-long colleagues.
Jacob Henry Goldin, born 21 February, 1939, was a pioneering craniofacial surgeon, known nationally and internationally, who helped transform the lives of hundreds of children born with facial disfigurements.
In 1986-87 Henry was president of the European Society of Craniofacial Surgery (ESCSF). He published many journal articles as well as a book on plastic surgery. He developed ground-breaking techniques, such as the “posterior release” in craniofacial surgery, still widely used today.
Henry enjoyed teaching and training, and was highly influential in the development of craniofacial training in the UK. For many years he was an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, including abroad in Hong Kong.
Henry enjoyed a full and active life and travelled extensively around the world. Henry and Liz loved spending time with family and friends at their holiday home in Tuscany. He enjoyed tending to the vineyard there, driving his tractor around the fields and sharing gifts of olive oil, produced locally from the numerous olive trees. He was also a keen sculptor.
Sadly, Henry developed Parkinson’s disease 12 years ago, however he managed the challenges of this condition with remarkable courage. Right until the end of his life he retained his good humour and dry wit.
Henry died peacefully. He was deeply loved by his family, and is also mourned by many friends. He leaves his wife, Liz; three children (Jonny, Diana, and Rachel); and four grandchildren, whom he adored (Phoebe, Kaiya, Tom, and Noah). He was also much loved by his sister, Eileen Novis, and brother, Alec Goldin. Henry was a cherished father-in-law to Nick and Alessandro, and brother-in-law to Terry Markman and Cedric Novis.
Manoochehr Vaziri, born 1 January 1937, sadly passed away on the 17 March, 2021 after an unexpected and short illness. Manoochehr had been a Fellow of the College from 1969 for over 30 years, and in his studies had gained an MD from Tehran in 1961 and a LMSSA from the Society of Apothecaries of London in 1968. He spent his final years of practice at Llanelli General Hospital before retiring in 2002. Mr Vaziri leaves behind his loving widow, Mrs Valerie Vaziri.
Timothy Russell Preston was born on 24 September 1931 in Croydon, and grew up in Maidstone, Kent where his father was an oral surgeon. He was educated at Wellington College, where he enjoyed the strong military and sporting ethos. At the age of 14 he won a national singing competition and played leading roles in several school productions which could possibly have led to a career in acting, however his father dissuaded him from this precarious path and he decided to continue the 400 year family tradition to study medicine.
In 1950 he went up to Jesus College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences. Tim was a keen and extremely talented sportsman - he gained his half blue for fencing and squash while at Cambridge, as well as treading the boards at the Footlights Club.
Tim graduated BA 1953, MB BChir 1956, MA 1969 and subsequently passed the examinations for FRCS and FRCSE. He completed his undergraduate training at Charing Cross Hospital, and after the obligatory house officer appointments he was called up for National Service as a Surgical Captain in the Army in Germany. On his return he held training posts in London, Oxford, Birmingham and Liverpool before he was appointed as Consultant General Surgeon and Urologist at Whiston and St. Helens Hospitals.
In the course of his career, Tim had a number of publications to his name before he retired 25 years later in 1995. He had a passion for patient care, and for passing on his knowledge to the next generation of doctors, nurses and students. He was renowned for his legendary storytelling, always delivered with a twinkle in his eye, whether in the theatre or after dinner.
Tim married Dr Elizabeth Rushton on 2 November 1968. He was at heart a great family man, and loved nothing more than entertaining family and friends with his ‘magic’ tricks and stories. He was also very resourceful and could turn his hand to most skills, which included wood-turning, woodwork, pig farming, haute cuisine and tailoring. He enjoyed fishing and shooting, but also had a keen interest in new technology. Latterly his health declined which robbed him of most of his sight and hearing, which he took in his stride as part of life. He is survived by his wife, their son and their daughter. Tim is greatly missed by all who knew him.
David Richardson, MD, FACS, Past-President and Past-Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons, hailed from Morehead, Kentucky and was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons since 1980. Dr. Richardson was a legend in his own time and an icon of surgery, constantly standing for what is right about our profession and his commitment to sustaining quality and education standards for all who come behind us.
Not only was Dr. Richardson an accomplished surgeon, however with years of study and preparation, he was comfortably recognised in all aspects of the thoroughbred horse business, having raised and sold over 1000 horses at last count, that have ultimately won races at different tracks across the country.
Most recently, he fought hard for the rural surgeon, and always brought clarity to thinking in a realistic fashion. His sense of humour and his honest thoughtfulness will be remembered by all, and guide those who work to uphold his legacy.
