BROWNE, Philip

BROWNE

After years of bringing life into the world, we are saddened to announce the passing of Dr. PHILIP MICHAEL BROWNE, beloved husband of Anne Browne, on Monday, November 8, 2021, with his loving family by his side after a brief and courageous battle with cancer.

Dr. Philip Michael Browne, BA (Geography), BSc (Biology), MD, CCFP, FRCS(C), and a diploma in renewable resource management. He would never show off, but we include his accomplishments to share our pride in this industrious and passionate man.

Phil was born May 19, 1955, in Nantwich, Cheshire, UK to Nancy and Bill Browne. He was their middle child and is survived by his older brother Paul (Cathy) and his younger sister Carole (Kevin). Growing up in England, he found his love of birds and conservation – one of the many diverse interests that he passionately pursued throughout his life.

Phil left England in 1975, three days after marrying his wife Anne, and immigrated to Canada. First settling in Edmonton, Alberta they then moved to Ponoka where he briefly worked at the Psychiatric Hospital. Following that short time, he and his family moved to Lethbridge where he completed a diploma in Renewable Resource Management at Lethbridge College. From there, he took a duck-counting job with Ducks Unlimited in Regina, Saskatchewan. After 10 years of helping to manage and conserve wetlands across the prairies, he chose to pursue his life-long goal of becoming a doctor.

Phil began his MD training at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon in 1989. Four years later, Phil graduated as the valedictorian of his class. He completed his CCFP and an extra year of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, then worked for two years as a family physician in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. But he wasn’t done yet and returned again to the University of Saskatchewan and completed his training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After a year of practice in Saskatoon, he was called by his dear friend, Allyson Adolph, to continue his career in Lethbridge, Alberta where he practiced for almost 17 years. Phil was guided by this simple belief: be useful. This understated philosophy underpinned his exceptional work ethic as a medical practitioner.

While his professional accomplishments are significant, what drew people to him was his unpretentious, honest, and forthright manner. He had a quick and sometimes irreverent wit. No matter the occasion or audience, academic or neighbourly small talk, he always found a way to reach people. He modelled this approach after his father-in-law Denis Walsh, who he admired immensely.

He was a man of boundless energy and wide-ranging interests. He passed these traits on to his children and grandchildren. To Phil, passionately was the way to live. It was important to him to care about our world, our environment, and people.

His legacy will be carried by those who loved him, those whose lives he touched, his wife Anne, his children Clare and Brendan, their partners Scott and Heather, and his grandsons, Samson, Liam, and Deaglan.

A Private Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed via Phil’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

In lieu of flower and in memory of Phil, donations may be made to the American Bird Conservancy (abcbirds.org) or any Conservation Organization that you support.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com