Lasting Memories

Duncan Govan
1923-Sept. 28, 2007
Winnipeg, California

Duncan Govan, 84, professor emeritus of urology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, died Sept. 28 after a prolonged illness.

He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was awarded his medical degree from the University of Manitoba in 1948 and spent three years there in a general surgery residency, followed by a year in gynecology.

He moved to the University of Chicago for a residency in urology in 1954. He also worked in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a physician's group before being invited to work at Stanford in 1961.

He was one of the original faculty of Stanford's medical school after it moved from San Francisco to Palo Alto in 1959. He served twice as acting chief of staff at Stanford Hospital.

He became professor emeritus in 1988 but continued to see patients until 1993. He served as deputy chief of staff at the hospital from 1989 through 1992 and served as acting chief of staff in 1992 and again in 1995-96.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen Patricia Goven of Portola Valley; six children; and many grandchildren.