Roderick Duignan Turner passed away at his home in Pacific Palisades on October 10. He was 84. ”Dr. Turner was born April 12, 1920, in Toronto, Canada. He grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which instilled in him a life-long fascination with the daredevils who went over the falls. He was the second of four children; his siblings, Betty, Jay, and Tim were his closest friends. While Rod was a good student in grammar school, by the time he reached high school there were many distractions such as sports and travel, and he felt that school was a hindrance to seeing the world. At age 16, he rode his bicycle 900 miles round trip to New York City. He ate lunch with heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, played the piano on Major Bowe’s Amateur Hour on CBS Radio and was given the keys to the city by Mayor La Guardia. While still a high school student, Rod took another long trip. This time he hitchhiked across the United States, going into 38 states and having many adventures. He sent weekly articles to three newspapers: The Niagara Falls Evening Review, Niagara Falls Gazette and the Buffalo Courier Express. In 1941, he began pre-medical studies at the University of Toronto; he later recalled that it was the hardest he worked in his life because he wanted to be among the few to qualify for medical school. World War II interrupted his studies and led to a lifelong love of the Canadian Navy and World War II history. ”Rod served on a corvette in the North Atlantic convoy from 1943-1945. After the war, he returned to U of T to complete medical school. In 1946, he met his future wife Nancy Marlow; their marriage in 1948 led to a life-long romance. After medical school, he and Nancy moved west to Vancouver, and later to southern California with $12 and their infant daughter, Toni. ”Rod completed his urology residency in Hollywood at the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital; during that time, he worked as an attending doctor for Paramount Studios and enjoyed home visits with Hollywood stars. In 1955, upon the opening of the UCLA School of Medicine, Rod started at UCLA as an assistant professor and moved the family to Pacific Palisades. He worked closely with Dr Willard Goodwin to develop new cystoscopic techniques for noninvasive treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and biopsy of bladder tumors. ”During his career, Dr Turner helped many patients with urologic problems and performed over 10,000 transurethral cystoscopic procedures. Rod’s work at UCLA allowed him to combine two of his great loves: medicine and athletics. He enjoyed his many years as a team doctor at UCLA, and cherished the friendships he made through work and sports. He took a sabbatical leave to work in France from 1961-1962. While on sabbatical he published a textbook, ‘Office Urology,’ which became a standard medical text for many years. He continued to work as a surgeon, and opened his own private practice in Santa Monica; he had a long tenure on the medical staff at Saint John’s Health Center. Rod loved traveling, animals, storytelling, piano playing by ear, movies, photography, painting, playing bridge, and being with family. He played tennis his entire life, including a weekly doubles match. As a boy, Rod spent his summers camping with his family on an island in the woods of northern Ontario in Algonquin Provincial Park. Eventually he and his brothers each built a cottage alongside their parents’ cottage, and the family still enjoys summer vacations there today. During his retirement, he enjoyed teaching urologic surgery in Africa. Rod is survived by Nancy, his wife of 56 years, his friend and helper John Singleton, and his faithful airedale terrier, Sondy. He is also survived by his daughter, Toni Turner Hopkins and her husband Robert of Healdsburg, CA, and their children Whitney and Emmett; his son Rod Turner and wife Michele of Pacific Palisades, and their children, Kathryn and Anne; and daughter Dana Witmer and her husband Ted of Kijabe, Kenya, and their children Paige, Luke and Gregory. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. ”A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 6, 11 a.m., at Calvary Church. In lieu of flowers, the family would direct donations to Saint John’s Health Center Foundation (1328 22nd St., Santa Monica CA 90404; tel. 829.8348), where a memorial fund has been created in his name.
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