The Queen’s community is remembering Robert Steele, a long-time professor in the School of Medicine, who died March 5 at the age of 93.

Dr. Steele arrived at Queen’s in 1968 and held several positions during his nearly 30-year career, including professor in the Department of Family Medicine, and professor and head of the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. He retired from Queen's as Professor Emeritus in 1996.

Born in West Calder, Scotland, Dr. Steele studied at the prestigious School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He graduated as a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1952 and completed a Diploma in Public Health in 1956, also from the University of Edinburgh.

He did postgraduate training in various locations in Great Britain, including the General Hospital in South Shields, England, the City Hospital, Edinburgh, and as an officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps at Connaught Military Hospital, Surrey, England.

Dr. Steele and his wife Letitia emigrated to Canada in the late 1950s to take up a position at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine.

He had a distinguished career as an epidemiologist, publishing in diverse fields including accidental injuries, delivery of health services, environmental issues, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Following his retirement from academic medicine Dr. Steele began to practise as a Physician Psychotherapist at a clinic in Toronto. He retired finally and fully at age 79.

A celebration of Dr. Steele's life will be held in June.

A family obituary is available online.