I was sad to read this article when were on the our cruise:
The UBC Thunderbirds family is mourning the loss of Dr. Jack Taunton, a giant in the field of Canadian sport and exercise medicine, and member of UBC's Sports Hall of Fame. Taunton passed away this week at the age 77.
As a pioneer in sport exercise medicine in Canada, Taunton founded countless organizations and initiatives including SportMedBC and the BC Brain Wellness Program.
Taunton faced serious health complications as a child, and recovering from these experiences spurred his earliest interest in sport medicine. He went on to become a nationally ranked marathoner, completing 60 races with a personal best of 2:25:29. Taunton did this while attending UBC medical school, where he was one of the top students despite battling dyslexia.
In 1971, Taunton started Canada's first road-running club, the Lions Gate Road Runners, alongside fellow UBC Physician Doug Clement. With their wives Cheryl Taunton, and Diane Clement, the couples organized local races that would eventually grow to become the BMO Vancouver Marathon and the Vancouver Sun Run.
Immediately after completing his Doctor of Medicine at UBC in 1976, Taunton, Clement and Don McKenzie co-founded the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre. As director of the centre for over 25 years, he worked with athletes as both a doctor and a coach, and with students as a graduate supervisor, clinical teacher and mentor. Over the past four decades, innumerable UBC students, athletes and coaches have benefited from his expertise.
"As our team doctor for over decades, Dr. T was always positive and encouraging. For myself and countless other athletes there was never an injury that you couldn't come back from or a timeline that was too tight to get you back on the field of play. No hurdle was too significant to overcome. It was obvious that's how he lived his life and it's how he inspired everyone around him." Robin D'Abreo, field hockey Olympian, Director of Athletics, UBC.
VANCOUVER,BC:NOVEMBER 27, 2021 -- UBC Thunderbirds v University of Saskatchewan Huskies during U Sports Canada West action at UBC in Vancouver, BC, November, 27, 2021. (Rich Lam/UBC Athletics Photo) ***MANDATORY CREDIT***
Dr. Jack Taunton at his 2021 induction to the UBC Sports Hall of Fame alongside former UBC President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Santa Ono
Due to his boundless resiliency and optimism, Taunton always had a knack for accomplishing the impossible; including supporting athlete health at eight Olympic Games and earning a rare distinction from the International Olympic Committee for the best sport medicine program in Olympic Games-host history for his role as Chief Medical Officer for Vancouver 2010.
Along the way, he served at hundreds of other events locally and abroad, including coordinating the medical portion of Rick Hansen's Man in Motion World Tour, even running alongside Hansen for nearly 100km a day across Alberta and part of Saskatchewan.
Taunton's work ethic, innovation and team approach garnered Jack numerous awards and accolades, including the UBC Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Faculty Community Service and induction to both the UBC and BC Sports Hall of Fame. Just this past year, he was deservedly appointed to the Order of Canada.
"I feel privileged to have had the chance to know and work with Jack over the years. The impact that he made here at UBC cannot be understated," said Kavie Toor, Managing Director, UBC Athletics and Recreation. "Jack's passion for our community as a mentor, a supporter and a friend embodied the true spirit of the Thunderbirds. His contributions, in both athletics and academics, have left an indelible mark on UBC Athletics."
A Thunderbird for life, Dr. Jack Taunton never stopped supporting UBC Athletics, forever lending his passion, skills and voice to helping UBC's student athletes.
