Former Chemistry Department chair and Student Health Services director Fred Pattison died Aug. 21 at the age of 87.
Pattison was born in Glasgow, Scotland and graduated from Cambridge University with a PhD in Chemistry. In 1947 he accepted a lecturer position in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in 1948 joined the Chemistry Department Western, rising to become Chair of the Department.
Fred Pattison
In 1965, Pattison enrolled as a medical student at Western, graduating as valedictorian in 1969. During medical school and following graduation he worked as a doctor in Newfoundland for the International Grenfell Association.
Pattison and his wife Anne returned to London in 1973 where he assumed the role of director of Student Health Services until his retirement in 1988. He also ran London’s Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic until the age of 70.
In retirement, Pattison was active as a volunteer counselor with the Ontario Correctional Services. He endowed the Fred Pattison Chemistry Lecture Series and a music scholarship at Western.
Pattison is survived by his wife and children Penny, Elizabeth, Rosalind, David and six grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at First St. Andrew’s United Church today at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army would be appreciated.