Duncan Govan

DR. GOVAN, Duncan Eben, loving husband of Eileen Patricia (Paddy) Govan, passed on the 28th day of September, 2007. Married for 57 wonderful years, the Govans met in their hometown, Winnipeg, Manitoba. They moved to Palo Alto, CA in the year of 1961 with their 6 children to assume a post in the Department of Urology at Stanford Medical Center. Dr. Govan received his medical degree at the University of Manitoba and continued his education at the University of Chicago where he earned his Ph.D. in surgery. As a devoted professional to his students, peers and most of all his patients, Dr. Govan was honored with many awards including twice having received the Henry Kaiser Award for Outstanding and Innovative Contributions to Medical Education, and the Alwin C. Rambar Award for Excellence in Patient Care. The Rotary Foundation recognized him as a Paul Harris Fellow for his humanitarian efforts in establishing the Roto Care clinic that provided free health care for people regardless of the status of their citizenship.

Duncan Govan was a rower, a hockey player, a lumberjack and a fierce competitor. He will be remembered by his family for his wonderful sense of humor, his unfailing support, his gentle heartedness and his big hugs. He will be remembered by all who knew him as someone who gave his full attention and support to those in need and to those he had only met.

Duncan Govan, husband, companion, father, and grandfather, will be remembered always by his loving wife, Paddy Govan, his children, Douglas Eben, Duncan Fraser, Reginald Bruce, Jennifer May (Carey), James Alexander and Patricia Jill (McGuire). He has 13 grandsons and 2 beautiful granddaughters.

A Celebration of Life was held on November 30, 2007. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Duncan E. Govan M.D. Visiting Professorship of the Stanford University Department of Urology, or to a charity of your choice.