In memoriam

RACS publishes abridged obituaries in Surgical News. We reproduce the opening paragraphs of the obituary. Full versions can be found on the RACS website.

Our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the following Fellows whose deaths have been recently notified.

Mr Adrian Vorbach (SA)

Dr Belinda Mary Scott (ANZ)

Mr Timothy McGahan (QLD)

Emeritus Professor James May (NSW)

Mr Colin George Davis (NSW)

Mr Fredy Jacob Daniel (VIC)

Mr Peter Crowe (NSW)

Fredy Jacob Daniel MBBS MS FRACSCardiothoracic Surgeon25 May 1939–22 February 2021

Fredy was the surprise second twin born at home in a small town in southern India in 1939. In spite of his medically challenging start to life, Fredy thrived at school, completing his education in a boarding school some 80 kilometres from his hometown. This was the same school his older brother, Willy John Daniel, had attended. After secondary school the two brothers’ academic paths diverged with John coming to Melbourne to study medicine and later completing his surgical training, while Fredy went to medical school at Manipal Medical College in Udupi, Southern India, and then on to the Kanpur Medical College to undertake a Masters in Surgery. Having completed his basic surgical training, Fredy worked at the Calicut Medical College Hospital in northern Kerala, India. It was there that Fredy, a surgical registrar, met Dr Valsa Thomas, an intern doing her surgical rotation. They decided to marry in 1969.

From there, Fredy applied for and was successful in achieving a position in thoracic surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in the early 70s. This was the beginning of a new life in Australia for him, his wife Valsa and 10-month-old son, Dennis.

In his early years in Australia, Fredy completed cardiac surgical training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, under Mr George Westlake and Mr John Clareborough, cardiothoracic surgical training at Royal Melbourne Hospital, working closely Mr Ian McConchie, and spent two years training in paediatric cardiac surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

This tribute was written by colleagues: Hamish Ewing, Siven Seevanayagam, Simon Knight and Fredy’s wife Valsa and daughter Deepa.

James May AC MD MS FRACS FACSVascular Surgeon1934–2021

Professor May was an outstanding academic surgeon, teacher, and trainer of generations of surgeons in this country.

Professor May provided a remarkable service to both the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) over many years. As well as being the Bosch Professor of Surgery, Professor May was Head of the Division of Surgery at the RPAH from 1979 to 1995, and Head of the Department of General Surgery at that hospital from 1979 to 1988. Professor May was seen by his surgical colleagues as the ‘father of vascular surgery’ in Australia, and he held an outstanding international profile in this discipline.

Professor May was responsible for the introduction of endovascular surgery in Australia and has served on many national and international endovascular societies. This included Member of the Board of Directors of both the International Society for Endovascular Surgery, and the International Society of Endovascular Specialists. Indeed, he was elected President of the latter Society from 2005 to 2007. Professor May also served as the President of the Australian and New Zealand chapter of the International Society for cardiovascular surgery, and from 2001-2004 he was President of the International Society for cardiovascular surgery.

Professor May’s academic contribution to endovascular surgery was outstanding. He served on the editorial boards of most of the major national and international journals of surgery.

This obituary was provided by Dr Raffi Qasabian FRACS.

Informing RACS

If you wish to notify the College of the death of a Fellow, please contact the relevant office:

ACT: college.act@surgeons.org

NSW: college.nsw@surgeons.org

NZ: college.nz@surgeons.org

QLD: college.qld@surgeons.org

SA: college.sa@surgeons.org

TAS: college.tas@surgeons.org

VIC: college.vic@surgeons.org

WA: college.wa@surgeons.org

NT: college.nt@surgeons.org