Memories and Celebrations of Life:
Obituary - Dermot McLoughlin
February 20, 1935 - December 25, 2020
McLoughlin, Diarmuid (Dermot) passed away peacefully in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Born Feb. 20, 1935 in Dublin, Ireland, Dermot is survived by Deirdre McLoughlin, his best friend and wife of over 60 years, along with sons John, Barry (Mary), Dermot Paul, and Mark; grandchildren Christopher, Kristen, Moira, Barry Jr., and Heather; brothers Edward (Anne) McLoughlin and Michael (Colette) McLoughlin, and in-laws Geraldine (Mick) Egan and John (Teresa) Campbell. He was predeceased by his grandchildren Joel and Nathan Grant McLoughlin, and sister-in-law Maureen Campbell.
Dermot served as a doctor for over fifty years graduating from University College Dublin in 1958, proceeding to Nigeria where he was married in 1960 to Deirdre, also from Dublin. Following two years in Nigeria was a brief return to Ireland enroute to Glasgow where Dermot specialized in radiology. A foray to Canada in 1966 lasted much longer than the anticipated couple of years. Following a short time at Toronto General Hospital, the family relocated to Barrie where he started Georgian Radiology Consultants serving hospitals in Barrie, Midland, Penetang, and Collingwood. The family moved back to Toronto in 1975 where he worked one year in tropical medicine at Toronto General. Subsequently he assumed the role as chief of radiology (1976 – 1993) in the Chedoke Division of Chedoke-McMaster Hospital in Hamilton. During the entire period from 1976 to 2015, Dermot worked extensively at hospitals in Sioux Lookout first with weekly stints each month and then later full time from 1993 onwards culminating at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre. For several years he was also a regular visitor at Weeneebayko Hospital in Moose Factory. Much of Dermot’s time and energy was dedicated to northern medicine. His notable achievement of establishing a basic radiography program across Treaty 9 communities advanced regional healthcare. This was recognized in the awarding of an honourary doctorate at Lakehead University in 2013. He also received the Chris Cromarty Award in 2010.
Dermot’s faith was important to him. He and Deirdre were the first lay associates of the Spiritans in Canada. This commitment and his engagement with many initiatives around peace and social justice were critical components of his life story and contributed to the relocations along that path. Rugby, water sports, time at the cottage, camping and travel were among his other interests. He will be dearly missed by many.
Deirdre and family would like to take this opportunity to thank so many people for their kindness to us during Dermot’s illness and since his death on Christmas Day. To the staff and Dr. J. Morgan at the W.A. George Extended Care Unit in Sioux Lookout who made the last four years so comfortable for Dermot and so welcoming to us, to all who reached out since Christmas with phone calls, emails, cards, food, flowers and mass offerings, a big thank you. All were sincerely appreciated.
Cremation has taken place. Due to Covid-19 restrictions no service is scheduled. A memorial service will take place at a future date. In memory, donations may be made in Dermot’s memory to Doctors Without Borders through the Sioux Lookout Funeral Home, 128 Front Street, Box 1449, Sioux Lookout, Ontario, P8T 1B9.
