Premier Honours Former Lieutenant Governor Dr. A. Maxwell House

The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, paid tribute to former Lieutenant Governor the Honourable Dr. A. Maxwell House, who passed away today at the age of 87.

“For five years from 1997 to 2002, Dr. House – together with his wife, Mary – worked tirelessly to serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador as our Lieutenant Governor, earning our enduring respect and admiration,” said Premier Dunderdale. “Now, in his family’s time of grief, we as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pause to remember them in our thoughts and prayers, and join them in celebrating his remarkable legacy.”

Dr. House’s service to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians began long before he became Lieutenant Governor. As a medical doctor, he was a pioneer in harnessing the power of telemedicine to help patients far beyond the touch of the physician’s healing hand. His legacy in this field has made Newfoundland and Labrador an international leader in telemedicine, decades ahead of the curve. His expertise made a profound difference in developing countries in Africa and the Caribbean, and he was invited to present his research in more than 35 countries. He also employed his expertise locally as the founding director for MEDICOR, Memorial University’s occupation health facility for offshore medicine.

Dr. House well understood the health care needs of rural Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, having grown up in Glovertown in the 20s and 30s. He started his medical practice in Baie Verte in 1952, then went to Montreal to take specialized training in neurology, and returned to Newfoundland and Labrador to serve as our only neurologist from 1959 to 1966. For eight years, he served as the Chief of Staff at the General Hospital in St. John’s. He was instrumental in establishing Memorial University’s Medical School and served there for three decades as a professor of neurology, educating hundreds of this province’s physicians. Even after retiring, he continued to serve in an advisory capacity while continuing to research innovative ways to harness new technology to deliver medical services more effectively to those in need.

“Though quiet and modest, Dr. House has made a difference so far-reaching that it will continue to resonate, both within this province and beyond, for generations to come,” said the Premier. “Here is an individual whose life is worth emulating. To his family and his many friends, on behalf of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I extend my deepest sympathies.”

Dr. House was deservedly inducted into the Order of Canada (1989), and received the Award for Communications in Remote Areas (1986), the Atlantic Canada Innovator of the Year Award (1990), the Canadian Medical Association’s Medal of Merit (1997), the James H. Graham Award of Merit from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1998), the Canadian Society of Telehealth CST Award (2000), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Marconi 100th Anniversary Wireless Vision Conference and Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (2001), recognition by the World Health Organization as an International Pioneer in Telemedicine, and two honorary Doctor of Law degrees (Memorial University and Dalhousie University).

In honour of Dr. House, flags at Confederation Building have been lowered to half-staff.

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2013 10 17             4:35 p.m.