A trailblazer in his field of cancer care has died.

Dr. Douglas Alexander MacIntosh, the founder of Belleville General Hospital's Cancer Clinic died on Saturday at the age of 88.

MacIntosh, known to many locally as Dr. Mac, founded the oncology clinic at BGH in 1972, it is currently named the Dr. Douglas A. MacIntosh Cancer Clinic.  It continues to flourish under the guidance of Dr. Levesque, Dr. Kankasen and Dr. Chooback. 

“Dr. “Mac” will be remembered for his care and compassion for his patients and their families,” it stated in a touching tribute in his obituary.  “Rest well, good and faithful servant.”

In an interview with the Belleville Intelligencer, his son, Peter MacIntosh, said his father’s death Saturday could be the result of his own battle with cancer.

“He fought prostate cancer for 26 long years and we’re not sure what the cause of death was, but it could well have been from his body just giving out after that many years,” he told Intel reporter Bruce Bell.  Peter MacIntosh also stated how the clinic bearing his father’s name is an immense source of pride for the family.

“We are extremely proud of that legacy (because) Dad worked extremely hard to establish the cancer clinic, almost through nothing but sheer will,” he said.

Dr. Mac was awarded the Christian Medical Foundation's Wm. Osler Award for Christian Medicine, The RCAF Humanitarian of the year award and Canada 125 medal. 

He is survived by his wife Catherine MacIntosh of 62 years and their children Ross, Cynthia, Peter.  Also lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Ian, Ryan, Madeline, Elisabeth and Jack along with many cousins, friends and colleagues.

Dr. Mac’s family moved from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Kingston where he attended K.C.V.I. and Queen’s University.  Dr. Mac earned a B.A. and M.D. Post graduate training was at Kingston General Hospital, University of Michigan Medical Centre, Ann Arbor and the Ottawa General Hospital. He earned a fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians (Canada) and settled in Belleville in 1966. Douglas opened a practice in Internal Medicine at that time and later founded the BGH Cancer Clinic, currently named the Dr. Douglas A. MacIntosh Cancer Clinic.

Visitation will be held at Steele Funeral Home, Moira Street Chapel, 30 Moira Street West, Belleville on Wednesday, August 21, from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, August 22nd, from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at College Hill United Church, 16 North Park Street, Belleville, on Friday, August 23, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception immediately afterwards.  Interment  to follow at Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston, at 3:00 p.m. If desired, donations to BGH Oncology (Dr. MacIntosh Cancer Clinic) or College Hill United Church would be appreciated by the family.