Obituary of Dr. Alban H. Lalonde

Alban passed away peacefully at the Sault Area Hospital with family by his side at the age of 87. Survived by wife Pauline (Landriault) of 62 years, children Sylvain (Maria) and Joanne Nichols (Vern) and grandchildren Gianna, Daniel, Marc and Stephanie. Predeceased by parents Gaspard and Yvonne (St-Amour) and siblings Annette, Jean (Jeannette), Aline (François), Cyprienne (Zéphyrin), Thérèse (Isidore), Gilberte, Bruno and Lucille (Gerald). Born and raised in the small French farming village of St-Bernadin in eastern Ontario. Alban’s first school was a single room school house built by his family on their farm and taught by his older sister. He went to high school in Vankleek Hill and entered medical school at the University of Ottawa. Alban and Pauline were married in 1954. He graduated in 1955, the youngest in his class then moved to Indianapolis for his residency at Methodist Hospital. There he specialized in three types of surgery; thoracic, vascular and paediatric. He received his Fellowship of American College of Surgeons. Alban and family returned to Canada in 1963 and settled in Sault Ste. Marie. He joined the new Group Health Centre as a surgeon to start his career. He then moved to private practice. He received his Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons (C). He went on to work at the General and Plummer hospitals and served for many years as Chief Staff of Surgery at the General Hospital. Alban served his community for over forty years. Although Alban did not serve in the Canadian army, he did earn, at Camp Borden his 2Lt in the Medical Corps. Alban was an active hunter and fisherman and enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing. He enjoyed his camp and boating and sailing with his friends, a member of the Algoma Retriever Association with his dog Bullet. Alban was a director of the Soo Jr Greyhounds, starting in the NOHA and merging into the OHA now the OHL. The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff of Twin Lakes Extendicare Mapleview for their kindness, cookies and excellent care toward Doc. We also want to thank the Sault Area Hospital for their care of Alban in the last few years. A very special thank you to Dr. Maloney and the staff of 3C for their empathy and comfort in Alban’s final days. It was Alban’s wish that cremation take place. Memorial contributions to Sault Area Hospital Surgical Unit, Heart and Stroke or Canadian Diabetes would be appreciated by the family.