Spine Deformity 6 (2018) 631 www.spine-deformity.org Obituaries Gordon W. D. Armstrong, 1923e2018

Gordon W. D. Armstrong was born to missionary par- ents in Hong Kong in 1923. His family returned to Canada in 1927 when his father was stricken with malaria. This early exposure led to a lifelong connection with China. Dr Armstrong received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Queen’s University in 1947. During his residency at the University Toronto, he was exposed to spinal surgery through Robert I. Harris, Fred P. Dewar, and Ian Macnab. Further study with J.I.P. James at the Royal National Or- thopaedic Hospital in London, England, stimulated his in- terest in spinal deformity surgery. From Sir Herbert Seddon, he learned anterior approaches to the spine. Dr Armstrong returned to Ottawa to begin practice at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in 1953 and practiced there until his retirement at 65 years of age in 1988. Between 1975 and 1987, he served as Chief of the Division of Orthopaedics. In 1963, he traveled to Minneapolis, MN, to learn Harrington instrumentation from John Moe. This truly began his career as a spinal deformity surgeon. He was a founding member of the Scoliosis Research Society and served as its Presi- Armstrong dent in 1980e1981. He also served as President of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association from 1984 to 1985. While in practice in Ottawa he met Molly Burnett, an for surgery. This led to a formal collaboration between the x-ray technician, at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. They wed in Ottawa Civic Hospital and the Beijing Union Memorial 1955 and remained married for 63 years until his death. Hospital. Fourteen Chinese doctors of various medical They had five children: Doug, John, Jamie, Mary Jane, and specialties were eventually trained in Ottawa. Beth. All three boys became physicians, Doug becoming a A true giant in spinal deformity surgery, Dr Armstrong pediatric orthopaedic spine deformity surgeon. remained humble and self-effacing. He possessed a Always an innovator, Dr Armstrong had a long and sneakily quick, dry sense of humor. He was always kind fruitful relationship with the National Research Council of and caring towards his patients. He and his wife treated his Canada. Together they developed a transverse loading fellows like family, adopting them into their orbit, being system for scoliosis surgery, a machine for the use in Moire truly interested in their children, and inviting them to their topography, and one of the first anterior spinal plates. He house for dinner or out to the family farm in Smith’s Falls. started taking spine fellows in 1976 and trained 12 fellows There was always a visiting retinue of Chinese doctors and in addition to 5 Chinese fellows who were funded by the researchers, whom they also took under their wing. Canadian International Development Agency. Dr Armstrong was dedicated to spinal deformity surgery Dr Armstrong maintained his close ties with China and and his patients. He relaxed by fixing grandfather clocks, in 1980 was asked to operate on Deng Pufang, the son of something of which he was quite proud. Above all, he was the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Mr. Pufang was a dedicated to Molly and his family. victim of the Cultural Revolution and had become para- plegic by mob violence. He was secretly flown to Ottawa Peter F. Sturm MD, MBA

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