Ross Iain Macleod died on 21 September 2001, after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Ross was 34 years old.

Ross started his medical career at Otago Medical School in 1988. He was well known for his sense of humour and sense of dress (those who knew him will not forget his quilted blue jacket). Ross returned to his home town of Christchurch for his clinical years and graduated in 1992.

I got to know Ross very well while we were first year house surgeons at Timaru. Ross’s kindness and compassion to his patients made him a favourite with staff and patients alike. At a time when morale was low in small hospitals Ross’s sense of humour was loved by all.

Ross spent his second house surgeon year in Auckland before embarking on a career in paediatrics. As a workmate commented, “underneath Ross’s light hearted exterior was a warm person with a very keen mind and his academic and clinical ability was never doubted”. Ross realised that putting a smile on a person’s face and healing their soul was as important as healing their physical symptoms.

Ross married Victoria in 1996. It wasn’t long before Ross and Vicki’s son, Hamish, was on the way, arriving in 1998. Unfortunately, Ross discovered he had cancer within a day of Hamish’s birth.

Ross fought his cancer head on with courage matched only by that of Victoria. He derived enormous pleasure and pride from his son and maintained his sense of humour throughout his illness. In keeping with Ross’s personality he was always concerned about how others were doing rather than focusing on himself.

When Ross died, we not only lost his talents as a doctor but also as a cricketer. Ross played representative cricket as a teenager and frustrated many opening attacks as an opening batsman. He continued to play cricket while enduring his cancer and its treatment.

When I remember Ross, I remember a loving husband and father, a courageous battler, a brilliant doctor, and the best friend a man could ask for.

Because Ross died at such a young age, a trust has been set up for his son. Those who would like to contribute can contact Victoria at 6 Lucknow Terrace, Napier Hill, Napier.