We are sad to announce the passing of Dr. Huntington “Skip” Sheldon who died at his home after a brief illness on Friday December 29, 2017. Born in New York City on January 14, 1930, Dr. Sheldon maintained a lifelong connection with McGill University, beginning with his undergraduate studies as a Markle Scholar.
Dr. Sheldon earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University and completed his residency there in Pathology. He was a pioneer in the study of electron microscopy at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm before returning to McGill in 1959 to further develop this work. As a Strathcona Professor of Pathology and a Royal Victoria Hospital physician, Dr. Sheldon was an outstanding teacher and mentor during his 25 years at McGill, known for his popular autopsy conferences, innovative research (combined electron microscopy and histochemistry which led to his extracellular localization of alkaline phosphatase), and publications.
Dr. Sheldon was a great benefactor to the University whose philanthropic support enabled McGill to create the Sheldon Biotechnology Centre – a biomedical facility to integrate McGill scientists with clinicians at its teaching hospitals. Over the years he provided support to McGill in numerous ways including student aid, athletics, the School of Music and the Maude Abbott Medical Museum. In 1996 he was awarded an Honorary LLD from McGill University’s Faculty of Law.
A true renaissance man, Dr. Sheldon pursued numerous activities outside of his work. He was an avid cross-country skier and spent a great deal of time plying his passion in the Morin Heights, where he served as President of the Viking Ski Club and where “Skip’s Hut” pays tribute to his impact there. For a time he served as Chairman of the Canadian Ski Association and participated as a coach in the winter Olympics in 1976 and 1980.
Having taken early retirement from McGill in 1985, Dr. Sheldon moved to Shelburne, Vermont where he would spend 25 years raising purebred Suffolk sheep and pursuing his passion for sailing.
Our condolences go out to the family of Dr. Sheldon. He will be greatly missed by his community of friends and colleagues worldwide.
Read the full obituary here.
January 12, 2018