A Tribute to Robert Roy Henry-The Classic "Academic Triple Threat": Accomplished Researcher, Inspiring Teacher, and Compassionate Clinician.

Abstract

Robert (Bob) Roy Henry was born 12 March 1950 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Ken and Paula (nee Baldwin) Henry. His father was a train engineer and his mother a homemaker from Kent, England. Bob was raised in Transcon, a small town outside the city where most people joined the railway to make a living, and that is what his future looked like also. Bob and his wife, Denine McBeth, first met as teenagers. She was 16 and a cheerleader from a rival high school; he was 17 and owned a motorcycle. Robert R. Henry, MD The year following high school graduation he was able to find work at Manitoba Steel as a laborer. It was this experience that convinced him to pursue his education at the University of Winnipeg. Bob had a natural thirst for knowledge and thrived in the academic environment. During the course of his studies, he was in line for an academic excellence award (Canada’s recognition of students with outstanding achievements). However, Bob knew it would require another year at the University of Winnipeg and his interests had changed. He decided against pursuing the academic distinction and instead applied to and was accepted at the University of Manitoba in the field of medicine in 1971, graduating in 1975. Left panel: Bob at 4 years old; right panel: Bob at graduation from the University of Manitoba, 1975 In 1973 he and Denine were married, and 2 years later their first son, Ryan, was born. During that time he was the president of the interns and residents’ association of Manitoba. After he graduated, he thought seriously of pursuing a specialty in cardiology at the University of Manitoba Health Science Centre. Unfortunately, on 11 September 1976, Bob, Denine, and Ryan were involved in a serious car accident that left …