Charles G. Drake (1920-1998) Neuro-Anesthesiologist, and with John M
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OBITUARY worked closely with Ronald F. Aitken, an innovative Charles G. Drake (1920-1998) neuro-anesthesiologist, and with John M. Allcock, a skilled neuroradiologist. Soon Drake became the world’s fore- ne of the giants of neurological surgery has left most aneurysm neurosurgeon, operating on a wide range us. Although he will always be identified with of patients, from television star Della Reese to a child who taking posterior fossa aneurysm surgery from was sent to him for treatment by Mother Theresa. O He was chairman of the Department of Clinical Neu- the realm of the daring to the domain of the routine, his contributions were much broader. He realized early on rological Sciences (1969-1974) and chairman of the De- that there was synergy in bringing neurology, neurosur- partment of Surgery (1974-1984) at the University of gery, and all the disciplines dealing with the brain un- Western Ontario. He was president of the Royal College der one roof. He did this with his colleague, Henry J. M. of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1971-1973), of Barnett, by becoming the first chairman of the Depart- the American Association of Neurological Surgeons ment of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the University (1977), of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Soci- of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, in 1969. They eties (1977-1981), and of the American College of Sur- put London on the international map through recruit- geons (1984-1985). He was chairman of the editorial ment of individuals who have excelled in fields beyond board of the Journal of Neurosurgery (1975-1976) and a those of the founding fathers. member of the editorial boards of several scientific jour- Charles George Drake was born without a father in nals. He authored or coauthored more than 100 scien- Windsor, Ontario, his progenitor having died 2 months tific publications, culminating in the classic 1995 mono- before his birth during the Spanish influenza epidemic. graph, Surgery of Vertebrobasilar Aneurysms: London, Drake was raised by his mother until the age of 9 years Ontario, Experience on 1,767 Patients, with S. J. Peerless and then, after she remarried, by his father’s 2 sisters. At and J. A. Hernesniemi. the age of 18 years, he entered the University of West- Drake combined the highest professional standards ern Ontario to study medicine and graduated in 1944. with uncommon modesty, stressing his errors as lessons He was a junior rotating intern at the Toronto General rather than his triumphs. He fished, hunted, and flew his Hospital in 1944 and 1945, then returned to Western, own airplane. He golfed with characteristic intensity and completing an MS degree in neurophysiology. He spent excellence, scoring 3 holes-in-one in his lifetime. Charlie a year with John Fulton at the Yale University School of enjoyed tireless support from his beloved wife, Ruthie. To- Medicine, New Haven, Conn, where he studied the mo- gether they had 4 sons and 14 grandchildren. tor physiology of the anterior cerebellum. After 2 years He had a special interest in young people and showed of surgical training at Victoria Hospital in London, keen curiosity about all brain disciplines. He came to the Ontario, he went to Toronto General Hospital, where weekly clinical neurosciences rounds faithfully and Kenneth McKenzie, Canada’s first full-time neurosur- could always be counted on to ask the question that geon, encouraged him to perform the first elective intra- everyone wanted to ask but did not dare. The depart- cerebral operation on a ruptured aneurysm. ment’s annual research day for residents, fellows, gradu- Subsequently, Drake visited the greats in neurol- ates, and postdoctoral students has been named after ogy and neurosurgery in Europe, including Sir Hugh him, and a research prize has been instituted to honor Cairns in Oxford, England. In 1952, he returned to Lon- his interest in the careers of young people. He had such don, Ontario, where he became the first neurosurgeon a powerful, benevolent, and pervasive personality that in the region. Little by little, his interest in aneurysms his presence is only slightly diminished by his physical prevailed. In 1958, no one in the world except Drake absence. would touch a ruptured basilar aneurysm, and even he lost 4 of his first 5 patients. The daunting odds of oper- Vladimir Hachinski, MD, FRCPC, DSc ating on these aneurysms were overshadowed by the abys- Richard & Beryl Ivey Professor and Chair mal prognosis that would result if they were not treated Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at all. Drake persisted, learning from every case. He rec- University of Western Ontario ognized the need for a multidisciplinary approach and London ARCH NEUROL / VOL 56, JULY 1999 886 ©1999 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Downloaded From: https://jamanetwork.com/ on 09/24/2021.