We Remember
ISA, Dr. Nessim Naguib
June 22, 1935 — June 16, 2016
In memory of Dr. Nessim Isa, beloved husband, adored father, loving grandfather, and Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, who surrendered peacefully to be with his Lord on June 16, 2016. After a heroic eighteen year battle with cancer, Dr. Isa graciously passed with his loving wife Laraine and three children at his side.
Born in Egypt, Nessim obtained his medical degree from Cairo University in 1960, then went to the United Kingdom for post graduate studies where he met his beautiful wife Laraine. They returned to Egypt for two years before immigrating to Canada in 1967. He earned a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from McGill University in 1970 and established his medical practice in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1971 until his semi-retirement in 2006. Nessim continued to practice medicine part time in BC until 2015.
Committed to growing the expertise of the medical community in Atlantic Canada Nessim served on the teaching faculty of Dalhousie University as Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology until his retirement. He was instrumental in establishing the undergraduate medical training program at The Saint John General Hospital where he was Program Director. Celebrating excellence in medical studies in the local community, he established the Dr. N. N. Isa Achievement Award recognizing the most proficient 3rd year medical student from Dalhousie or Memorial University who completed their core training at The Saint John Regional Hospital. His advice to medical students, “Know your patient as a person, not just what their symptoms are.”
In his distinguished career, Dr. Isa served as Past President of the Atlantic Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Director of the Gynaecological Oncology Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Medical Director of the Menopause Clinic at The Saint John General Hospital. He was a Fellow at both The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist and The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Dr. Isa was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Member Emeritus of the Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists of Canada, and a member of The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, The North American Menopause Society, and both The New Brunswick and British Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
After his retirement he moved with his wife, Laraine, to Kelowna, BC. They have been lovingly married for 53 years. He is survived by Laraine, their three children: Shareef (Tammy), Marcus (Dr. Kristie Kolkind), Dr. Susan (Dr. Sanjay Sharma), seven brilliant grandsons: Neel, Kadin, Kristian, Evan, Nolan, Andrew and Jonathan, four brothers and four sisters in Egypt. Nessim is predeceased by Mother Nagiah and Father Naguib.
Papa’s examples and teachings will continue on in the lives of those left behind. In every game of chess, garden tended or challenge conquered, Papa’s wisdom will endure. “Once you make a decision, there is nothing left to worry about,” was a guiding principle that Nessim held steadfast until the end.
With heartfelt thanks to Doctors Leitch, Rao, McCauley, Sarbit, Povah Butterworth, Hickman, Jones, Loken, Jugnauth ,Keating, Dolan and the ER doctors of the KGH, the nurses of 4B, the staff of the Ambulatory Care Clinic, and the Blood Lab at the KGH.
A private family viewing is scheduled at Springfield Funeral Home. The funeral service will be presided over by Rev. Anne Privett and Ven. Trevor Freeman, and everyone is welcome. Dr. Isa’s life will be celebrated at Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church, 4619 Lakeshore Rd. Kelowna on TUESDAY, JULY 5th,, 2016 at 10:30 am followed by internment at Saint Andrew’s Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donation to The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, 2268 Pandosy Street, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 1T2 or The B.C. Cancer Agency, 399 Royal Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5L3. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Service
TUESDAY, JULY 5th,, 2016 at 10:30 am
Location
Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church
Share with Others:
The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, 2268 Pandosy Street, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 1T2 or The B.C. Cancer Agency, 399 Royal Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5L3.
Service Information
Service Details
The service for ISA, Dr. Nessim Naguib is scheduled for TUESDAY, JULY 5th,, 2016 at 10:30 am. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church
4619 Lakeshore Rd. Kelowna, BC
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
I’m so sorry to hear of Nessim’s passing. Please accept our condolences and kindest regards.
-Barb, Maddie and Jake
As the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department secretary for 20 years I have enjoyed working with Dr. Isa. Even after he retired and moved to Kelowna he called the office at least once a year to see how things are going. I am sad to hear that Dr. Isa has left your lives but am sure loving memories will be everlasting.
Dear Lorraine, Marcus and family,
With great sadness today, I heard of Nessim’s passing.
All our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Nessim was an amazing physician as well as a wonderful person.
He was always quick and glad to help with any problem.
He also made me feel happy with his infectious sense of humour and smile.
I will always remember Nessim as the most professional and dedicated physician I ever knew and was proud to be his friend.
May God bless you all and help ease your loss.
Mark & Andrea
Dr Isa was the best gynecologist when I was pregnant with my first child. He will always be remembered as a very kind hearted man. R I p Dr isa
Laraine and family,
Gail called to tell me that Nessim passed away. Wishing to extend my deepest sympathy.
Cherish your memories they will keep him alive in your heart forever.
Love Kim
I have attached a photo and Dr. Isa and I taken in December before you sold your home and moved to Kelowna BC
RIP uncle Nassem.
Our condolences to the whole family.
I am very sorry for your loss. Dr Isa delivered both my children (’91 & ’94), he was a quiet man but very kind. My prayers go out to all his family.
Laraine, I am so sorry to hear about Nessim. You and Nessim worked so hard since your arrival in Canada to bring up your family. I am sure many people’s lives have been enriched by knowing each of you, even for a moment in time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Donna McLean.
I graduated from the Saint John School of Nursing in 1971 and worked in labor and delivery with Dr. Isa for 3 years. I then worked in the operating room til my retirement. Dr. Isa was a kind, caring and professional doctor who always had his patients well being at heart! He always had a smile for those he worked with and was considerate to us all! My heartfelt condolences to all his family. May you find peace but remember his special everlasting memories with each and everyone of you!! Blessings.. Wendy Bennett R.N.
Dr. Isa was my gynecologist sence I was 17 years old. He got me through alot of medical care including the pregnancy of my daughter. Dr. Isa was a very kind and caring doctor I miss him when he retired. Thank you for all you have done now rest in peace Dr.Isa you will be saddly miss. My condolence to the family.
RIP Dr Isa
As a former intern of Dr Isa in Saint John and then practicing in the community and doing work in the labor and delivery , I enjoyed his friendship And mentorship.
It was his idea with both family Drs like myself that we started the first menopause clinic east of Montreal. With my condolences to the whole family
Sajni Thomas
So sorry to hear about your dad’s passing Shareef!!! The last time I saw you was @ Lorne Junior High 1977-79 …remembering the end of the school year pool parties at your place in Millidgeville, which your parents supervised, great memories!!!
Very difficult time, stay strong!!!
Dr. Isa was a wonderful doctor whom delivered my children in 1985 and in 1988. He will be sadly missed.
Dear Mrs Isa and family,
On behalf of my mother Shirley and all of us, I want to tell you how sad we are to hear of Dr Isa’s passing. Dad and Dr Isa had much respect for each other professionally and were also good friends. Mrs Isa, Mom sends her love. We send sincere sympathy to you all.
Mary Ann
Please accept my condolences. Fond memories from Parklawn Court.
I am very sorry to hear of Dr Isa’s passing. I worked with him for many years at SJRH in the Operating Room. He also delivered my second child. May peace be with you during this difficult time.
Sorry to hear of Dr.Isa’s passing. He was a wonderful Doctor who delivered my children and
who I met later while working in the Oncology dept where I worked when he was a patient there. A very gracious man who always was kind and caring. He will be missed by all who met him.
So sorry to hear this. Dr Isa was the best physician to me. He was always kind and I felt safe in his medical care.
He was confident and secure in his practice. He made me feel like a person as was his teaching and I liked him.
He also had a humerous side that would show sometimes a in a smile or a comment. I was so very fortunate to have him as my OB/GYN and to have him deliver my two children.
May peace be with his wife Laraine and his family.
Dr. Isa was my doctor for all 3 of my children, he was a compassionate doctor. I am sorry to hear of his passing. RIP
So sorry to hear of Dr Isa’s passing. He was my doctor during a very srressful illness and I will always be greatful for his expertise and friendly personality. He is number one in my books. My sincere condolences to the family.
Dr. Isa delivered four of my children. He saved my life when at 32 years of age I needed emergency surgery.
He was always professional and kind. I am sorry for your loss!!!
So sorry to hear of Dr. Isa’s passing but so glad he is now with the Lord. Sending prayers to the whole family. I have many happy memories of Dr. and Mrs. Isa.
I am so very sorry to hear of Dr. Isa’s passing. He was my Obgyn and delivered my son Bradley in 1997 at 7:10 pm. He joked that if I did not deliver him by 7 pm he was going home hahaha. Of course he stayed. Dr. Isa, on this very day as I learn of your passing, I would like you to know that Bradley is graduating High School tonight with High Honors. He has grown into a fine young man and I thank you for bringing him into this world. Rest in Peace Dr. Isa.
On behalf of my family I send my sincere condolences to all the Isa family. My father, the late Donald Sutherland, worked closely with Dr. Isa through most of his career in Saint John. Dr. Isa was very highly respected and I know they learned much from each other. In addition, as a family physician in Saint John in the early stages of my career, it was always a pleasure to work with Dr. Isa. His gentlemanly approach and kind, respectful bedside manner left an impression on all of us. We have missed him since his retirement but his legacy lives on with the award presented in his memory at Dalhousie University.
Dear Laraine and Family
Sorry to hear Nessim has moved on-it was an honour to have him and his family share their lives with us.
Sincerest Sympathy.
Carol and Dr Bill Johnson
My condolences to your family. While working as a family physician in Saint John, Dr Isa was a wonderful colleague. I regularly took my mother to her medical visits with him; he was such a caring, compassionate gentleman with a lovely sense of humour. My thoughts are with you.
Laraine and family my deepest sympathy he was a great man an Dr without his care I would not be here today and for that I will always be thankful
It saddens me to learn of Dr Isa’s passing. He was my doctor for years and I truly valued his expertise and respected him for the fine person he was. My condolences to his family…may he rest in peace
Dear Laraine & family,
It’s with my broken heart that I heard of the passing of Nessim, even though we realize that this journey we all have to travel through one day, remembering Our Lord has promised that He has gone on and has prepared His House for us. If it weren’t true He would never have told us so.
Nessim always struck us as a fine gentleman and distinguished himself as a compassionate physician. He shall always been my model and example in our professional life journey. I know he is presently living with with Our Lord. He is a loyal and faithful servant…….. May you and your family be blessed with God’s Grace in the rest of your life journey………
I still remember how Nessim responded generously to my daughter Lisa’s fund- raising campaign for maternity health in Africa some years ago.
With all our loving thoughts,
John ( Irene ) Yang MD
Laraine and family. We have thought of you often since you moved west and now and then a trickle of news about our old friends. We enjoyed your dinners, such gracious hosts, we were always so humbled by your kind attention.
Dr Isa is the only colleague I have known in my 30 years of practice that I never called or referred to by his first name , it has always been Dr Isa. What a role model , an all around good guy! Proud to have known him. Don and Sue Andrew
I am so sorry to hear of Nessim’s passing. He was a wonderful resource and an experienced guiding hand in the operating room. I will think of him often. My condolences to the family he left behind.
It is with sadness that I have learned of Nessim’s passing. I was privileged to have learned from and worked with this true professional. Sincere condolences to his family.
On behalf of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dalhousie University, I would like to express our sincere sorrow and sympathy to Laraine, Shareef, Marcus and Susan and extended family and friends. Throughout Nessim’s illustrious professional career in St. John, he made outstanding contributions to women’s reproductive health care, undergraduate and postgraduate education and leadership at the regional, provincial and national level. Among his many gifts of character, virtues that will be most remembered include commitment, compassion, generosity, honesty, humility, perseverance, reliability and kindness. Dr Isa leaves a legacy of devotion to his professional calling that will not be forgotten by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Dear Marcus and Kristie,
Our condolences to you and your family.
I remember your Father as a very kind and respectful man.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Bert and Nancy Ter Horst
I am sad to hear he has died but smile when I think of the times I worked with him as his clerk then intern then colleague. He had a soft gentle voice and manner with the patients that was an inspiration to watch and a style to emulate. Thank you Nessim .
I remembers the Isa family well from their time at Stone Church here in Saint John. What a lovely, lovely gentleman, in the true sense of the word gentleman. My son, Cian Horrobin, and I send our sincerest condolences.
Laraine and family
Please accept my condolences for such a loss to you all. My prayers are with you.
Dear Marcus and family,
I never knew your Dad ,( although I did meet him at the office once.) Thank you for sharing him with us through his tribute in the Courier. Our world and country is a better place because of his contributions to us and the medical community.
I wanted to convey my sympathies to you, Marcus, as we have chatted many times in the office ( Dr McCauley, Dr Rolf, Dr Appelt) and understand the loss and sorrow of losing a beloved Dad. Psalm 91:1
Debbie Ballard RN
To the Isa Family;
My sincerest condolences. Apart from his many medical achievements, Dr. Isa’s great legacy has to be his lovely, close-knit family and the values they carry forward to the next generation. I hope the loss you feel will be eased by the lasting gifts of memories you can share at this sad time. Much love, Susanne Willett
To the entire family that we hold so dearly. Please accept our condolences from the Arseneau family from next door in Saint John. You are all weaved into the story of our childhood and our history. Thank you to Nessim and Laraine for sharing their home with us and their love. Nessim will be remembered as a devoted doctor, father, grandfather husband to Laraine, forever in our hearts.
Dear Laraine, Marcus and Kristie
It’s with true sadness that we heard of Nessim’s passing. Thank you Laraine for letting us know! It seems like such a short time ago that Laraine and Nessim moved to Kelowna. I have many memories of Nessim almost all of which involve pearls of wisdom. As you know we became aquatinted in the operating room where he assisted at surgery. Although a much better description would be that he provided ” guidance”. His vast experience and skill made the most difficult case manageable. Most of all I will miss his quiet but insistent advocacy for the patient. Such a great example for the students and all of us.
Real integrity is sometimes challenging to find in today’s medicine. Hopefully Nessim, you left some of it behind! A. Glenn Benoit
So sorry to hear of Dr.Isa’s passing. He was a true scholar and a gentleman. His legacy is carried on through his loving family. Our sympathy is with you in this difficult time.
Laraine, Marcus, Susan and Sherrife: We were all very sorry to hear of Nassim’s death. A great neighbour, a great partner, a great patient, and a joy to have working in the Clinic. We are sure he will be truly missed. Our thoughts are with you. Dr. Shane R. Holt and staff.
Dear Laraine , Marcus, Sheriffe, Susan and family – the world is sure to miss such a generous, wise and dignified man as Nessim. He mastered the balance of being a great patriarch to his family, a leader among professionals in his work place, and a friend to those who needed his support. Our sympathy and prayers are with your family at this difficult time. We have faith that the world is a much better place going forward with the people he has helped here. Your friends, Kemal, Nicole, Nicolas, Janette, Alexander and Peter Debly