Emerson Purchase

On Tuesday, 21 June, Emerson Coatsworth Ramsay Purchase passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was in his 95th year. Emerson was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Gertrude Chute. He is survived by his loving children: George (Peggie), Bill, Jim (Kate), Janet (Shelley Bacon), Don (Georgina), and his adoring grandchildren: Jennifer (Rudi), Kelly, Matthew, Samantha and Adam, as well as his beautiful great-grandchildren: Emily, Leah and Jaelyn Biemond.
Emerson was born Nov. 11, 1921 in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. Son of Frederick (United Church Minister) and Louise (church organist). Emerson was a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Toronto. He graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine in 1946 and was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Throughout medical school Emerson was a member of the Canadian Air Force. He interned at Kingston General Hospital before becoming a medical officer at Greenwood Air Force base in Nova Scotia, and flying on numerous medical missions to Canada’s North. He went on to spend 2 years in San Francisco, furthering his training in Internal Medicine, before he was made a Wing Commander at Trenton Air Force base. He left Trenton in 1958, for his final post at Rockcliffe Air Force base, Ottawa. After the Air Force Emerson went on to do medical assessments for the Metropolitan Insurance Company and then started a very successful private practice in Allergy and Immunology. He also did clinical teaching through the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Civic Hospital, and committee work for the OMA. Emerson loved the practice of medicine and caring for patients. After retiring from a full practice in Ottawa he started an allergy clinic in Brockville where he worked part time for several years. He fully retired at the age of 75. Emerson loved green spaces and, over the years, planted many trees and vegetable gardens. Summers with a growing family were spent at the cottage on the Upper Rideau Lake: sailing, boating, swimming, and forever dragging waterskiing kids around the lake; thank you Dad! Later, Emerson and Dorothy enjoyed travelling. The family would like to thank the following people for their loving and compassionate care: all the staff on the third floor of Valley Stream Manor and the caregivers and PSWs of Comfort Keepers. Thank you to Dr. Coulombe for your help and guidance at the end. Visitations will be at Tubman Funeral Homes Garden Chapel, 3440 Richmond Road (at Bayshore Dr.), Ottawa on Monday, 27 June, from 2-4 and 6-8p.m. The family asks for donations to Alzheimer’s Society in lieu of flowers.