Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-06-28, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Juno 26, 195 Feature RIDING IN STYLE - Dr. Edmund Malkus and his wife Ruth were transported by Jeff Norgate, of Tuxedo Limousine, in the only remaining 1940 Chrysler Windsor limousine. The custom-made Windsor was one of 48 made and Is 22 inches TEM CUMMING PHOTO bnger than the standard four -door sedan. The couple was picked up in the car to be taken to the 40th anniversary party of Dr. Malkus' medical service in Seaforth. Limo greets Seaforth couple BY TIM CUMMING Expositor Editor On June 21, Dr. Edmund Malkus and his wife Ruth were greeted at their Seaforth home by a 1940 Chrysler Windsor Limousine with the license plate `4T LIMO'. The year 1940 was signifi- cant because Dr. Malkus has served patients in Seaforth and area for about 40 years. The custom-built limousine was one of only 48 ever made, and the only one which exists today. It was just the first sign that a special evening was ahead. The Seaforth couple were whisked away to the Scaforth Legion Hall where they were greeted by hundreds of friends, family members and well- wishers. In a brief ceremony speakers honoured Dr. Malkus with anecdotes which ranged from humorous to nostalgic. Former head nurse Hilda Payne recalled that she met Dr. Nlalku' in 1953 when he was al St. Joseph's hospital in Lon lon. Three years later they w working together at Seatorth Community Hospital. She remembered 'Ed' for his quick and heavy footsteps and some deliveries. Seaforth Mayor Irwin Johnston presented the long- time doctor with a picture of a post office, where Dr. Malkus has been known to enter often with his long strides. In his remarks, Mayor Johnston touched upon the demanding early days for doc- tors. "Doctors in those days had to make house calls in all condi- tions," he said. Patients liked Dr. Malkus' bedside manner and cheerful disposition, said Mayor Johnston. "As we look back over the past forty years we arc very grateful Dr. Malkus decided to stay in Seaforth." Gwen Devereaux, an R.N. and Business Manager of Seaforth Medical Clinic, recalled in her remarks not only that they had worked together for 22 years but he had delivered her first baby, Renee, on New Year's Day. He was called away from a New Year's Eve celebration and delivered three babies over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Mrs. Malkus was also being honoured on Wednesday night, according to Devereaux, who called her one of the most wonderful women she had ever met. I'm here to honour Mrs. Malkus who put up with our frantic calls in the early morn- ings and late nights," she said. "We were received by the most pleasant and wonderful woman." One of the most poignant moments of the evening was when Randy McClinchey, the first person ever delivered by Dr. Malkus in Seaforth, arrived on stage carrying three -and -a - half -month-old Jacob McClure, the most recent baby he delivered. - Dr. Ken Rodney, the longest - serving doctor beside Dr. Malkus who is still at Seaforth Community Hospital, joined the Seaforth Community Hos- pital in 1976. He noted that Dr. Malkus has provided care to at least two generations of Seaforth families. "It really has been a privilege to work beside Dr. Malkus," he said. "He has given 40 years of steady service to his commun- ity and he still found time to be a father of six children and a husband." Marlen Vincent said it was his privilege, as one of his last duties as Board of Directors chairperson, to congratulate the 40 -year Seaforth doctor, noting he is known for his "winning smile." The doctor was presented with a watch, inscribed '40 Years Service', by Seaforth Medical Clinic and Seaforth Community Hospital. When it came time for him to speak, Dr. Malkus noted he had never been a politician or public speaker. "It's an unforgettable night for me and my wife," he said in his moving remarks. "It seems like just yesterday Ruth and I were driving around southwestern Ontario looking for a nice place to raise our family," he said. "We never once regretted our decision (to move to Seaforth)." He noted that Doctors E. A. McMaster and Paul Brady have passed away since he began as a doctor in Seaforth. One of the highlights of his work, he said, has been seeing the children he delivered grow up and have families. "I feel happy and proud to meet young men and women whose birth I was privileged to attend." Dr. Malkus had some of his kindest words for his wife. "Thank you to my wife Ruth who has supported me through all these years, never complain- ing about those late nights." After the end of the formal presentation Dr. Malkus noted that there have been many changes at the hospital and in Seaforth. "This building didn't exist 40 years ago," he said, pointing to the Legion surroundings. Dr. Norman Thibert, son of Seaforth Community Hospital CEO Bill Thibert and one-time fellow intern with Dr. Malkus, attended the 40th anniversary celebration. Also attending the special evening were former Seaforth colleagues Dr. Roger Whitman and Dr. Frank Wong. Dr. Wong, who was a doctor in Seaforth from 1980 to 1989 and now lives in London, recalls Dr. Malkus' excellent memory for details. "He remembers everything, he remembers what the weather was like when he delivered a baby," he said. Doctor delivered many babies BY TIM CUMMING Expositor Editor For hundreds of Seaforth people the first face they saw, as they entered this world, belonged to Dr. Edmund Malkus. In forty years as a physician at Seaforth Community Hospi- tal he has delivered babies to two generations of Seaforth families. Over the coursc of his medical career he delivered or helped in the delivery of 1,130 babies. Once, he recalled, there were two brothers who had married twin sisters. They had babies on the same date and Dr. Malkus helped with their deliv- ery at the old Scott Memorial Hospital. When Dr. Malkus first came to Seaforth he made house calls in the rural areas, count- ing each mile and a quarter on a map. Later, he came to know almost every farmer by name. In his early days in Seaforth physicians were on call day and night. They would go out on house calls in inclement weather when ditches were deep and filled with snow. Dr. Malkus once became stuck in the snow during a stormy visit to a patient's home. Dr. Malkus recalls the old Seaforth Medical Clinic (where Huron Sports Outfitters is located) and the old Scott Memorial Hospital (now Seaforth Manor Nursing Home). The ambulance at one time was a modified station wagon with very little head room and no hooks to hang IV tubes on. Dr. Malkus once rode with a patient to London holding the IV line in the air with his arm for the entire trip. Edmund Malkus was born on January 23, 1921 in Lithuania. He later went to Germany where he graduated in medi- cine. When he came to Canada in 1949 he hardly knew a word of English. He soon began picking up the language from comic strips such as Bringing Up Father, by reading newspapers and from watching cowboy movies. There were some comical experiences is he learned the peculiarities , the English language...such as the fact 'Plymouth' is not pronounced 'Ply Mouth.' Edmund and Ruth Malkus had met at the Dnsseldorf Medical Academy where Ruth was also a medical student at the time. Ruth, also of Lithuanian background, travelled to Canada first, fol- lowed by Edmund. They married on May 26, 1949 in Sault Ste. Marie. In Sault Ste. Marie he worked in a lumber mill. Dr. Malkus became an intern at St. Joseph's hospital in Lon- don. While there he used to play chess with another intern. That gentleman was Dr. Nor- man Thibert, now a spctialist in Windsor, and the father of Bill Thibert, current Chief Executive Officer of Scaforth Community Hospital. "The world is so small," notes Dr. Malkus. The doctor and his wife came to Seaforth in 1955. He prac- tised in the Seaforth Medical Clinic. At first the Malkuscs lived in an apartment across from the clinic. Later, they bought the home at 86 Goderich St. W. where they live today. The difference between the practice of medicine in 1955 and 1995 is like day and night, according to Dr. Malkus. "We didn't have any equip- ment here." In the mid -1950's the hospi- tal was able to do urinalysis and partial blood counts but not much more. Today, there arc facilities to do complete blood counts, CPR equipment, a defibrillator, tracheal tubes and a gas machine with special equip- ment such an oximeter. The electrocardiograph which was rare in 1955 is now common- place. In the early -to -mid -1960's the hospital purchased an ECG machine. In the 1970's the hospital purchased a ventilator. "Another advance I've seen that's really unbelievable since 40 years ago is the cardiac monitor," he said. If a pulse rate changes to a potcnually- dangerrnrs high or low level an see Doctor, page six Also attending last week's event were five children of Dr. Malkus and his wife Ruth, as well as five of eight grandchildren. Five of the six families were represented. The Malkus family includes Vida and George Schmidt and their daughter Katharine of St. Catharines; Beata and John Spraggs and their children Molly, Danielle and Annikke, of Manotick; Monica Malkus, of Toronto; Donna and Randy Kimball and daughter Brittany Anne, of Windsor; Edmund Malkus; Tess and Frank Yim and their children Adam, Spencer and Nathan, of Lon- don. Dr. Malkus' daughter, Beata, said the evening was very emotional. "It was very moving," he said. "He was really touched by it, I think." One of the people who came to Wednesday night's gathering was Mary Doig, who men- tioned some fond memories of the Malkus family. She recalled that Dr. Malkus often took his own children and the Doig children to movies or to the beach. The children in the two families would put on little concerts in the attic of the Malkus home. Huron County Entrepreneurs are Invited to attend a Seminar How To Start A Small Business (Free to Attend) Wednesday, July 5, 1995 12:00 pm (Noon) at The Huron Business Centre 138 Main St., South Seaforth, Ontario Sponsored by The Huron Business Development Corporation To Register Or For More Information, Contact Donna at (519) 527-0305 Tast u y WHITE OR 60% WHOLE WHEAT ASE BREADsIced �9¢ BUY3rFREE EVERYDAY LOW PRICES HAMBURG/HOT DOG ROLLS PKG. 8 99° ASSORTED SQUARES PKG. 6 =2.99 MUFFINS ALL VARIETIES PKG. 6 $1.99 "WEEKLY IN-STORE SPECIALS" MEDIUM CHEDDAR $3.99 lb. NEW PRODUCTS FAST, FRIENDLY SERVICE s— FRESH MADE SOUP & SANDWICHES, SALADS COFFEE & DONUTS AND MORE! Fast Friendly Service...Eat-in or Take -Out 7 Areaws, mak, 9ii e, Zufletit t, • 'Pasty214s.a Bakery & Ch•••• Houma* Bakery & Chi House TRADITIONAL OUAUTY SINCE 1929 18 MAIN STREET. SEAFORTH 527-1803 4' am 103 PPY CANADA fio • Canadian Tire Seaforth Will be CLOSED Saturday, July lst. Open Sunday July 2 lOam-4pm OPEN MONDAY JULY 3 8:30 am - bpm Our Auto Service Centre will be closed MONDAY, JULY 3 527-1350 CANADIAN TIRE Seaforth • y