ANDREW RENDALL LILLIE, M.D. (ANDY)

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ANDREW RENDALL LILLIE, M.D. Andrew Rendall Lillie (Andy) passed away peacefully with his three children, and granddaughter Erin, by his side on November 11, 2018, in Tucson, Arizona. Andy was born on September 10, 1931 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Andrew Macdougall Lillie and Margaret Elizabeth (Rendall) Lillie. Andy's loving wife, Noreen Dryden Lillie, preceded him in death in 2010 and his son-in-law John Lucido passed in 2012. Andy is survived by his daughters, Brenda (George) Dunbar and Tracy Lillie Lucido, and his son Andrew Dryden (Anne) Lillie, as well as his six grandchildren, Matthew (Catherine) Dunbar, Erin Dunbar, Christopher (Ellie) Lucido, Nicholas Lucido, Catherine Lillie and Andrew Essmeier Lillie. Andy was very active in hockey, baseball and soccer while growing up in Winnipeg. Andy's hockey career, as a youth, included playing for the West End Orioles which went undefeated for two years - until Sir John Franklin broke their winning streak in the Division Finals. The following year Andy played with Sir John Franklin. Andy was scouted by NHL teams during his youth hockey years however an extended hockey career was cut short due to a terrible knee injury on the soccer field. During his adult years Andy's connection to hockey continued with season tickets as well as many friendships and good times with members of the Minnesota North Stars NHL team. Andy played recreational hockey well into his 50s and for a number of years enjoyed playing in the Senior Olympics Hockey tournament held in Santa Rosa, California. As you might imagine, Andy enjoyed following his favourite hockey teams, the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs, on television. He especially enjoyed listening to Mark Donnelly sing the Canadian National Anthem - always singing along! During his youth, Andy was a member of the Rosedales baseball team during their glory years (his team was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in later years). He played semi-pro baseball in Manitoba, as well as in the Saskatchewan League for Moose Jaw, Estevan, Yorkton and Roblin. Andy was also drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing for a time with their farm team, before deciding to devote his full attention to medical school and his future as a doctor. After completing his medical degree at the University of Manitoba and marrying Noreen in 1955, they moved to the United States for Andy to complete his medical training in Indianapolis, Indiana. Andy and Noreen later had the opportunity to live in a number of cities, including Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN, where Andy began his career as a Radiologist at St. John's Hospital, later moving to Piedmont, CA where he worked at Samuel Merritt Hospital. Andy and Noreen retired to Hilton Head Island, SC, in 1991, and moved for the last time in 1997 to Tucson, AZ to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Throughout much of Andy's adult life he enjoyed spending time on the golf course. He was a member of the North Oaks Golf Club in St. Paul and later Bear Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head. He played at the nearby Forty Niner Country Club in Tucson as well. Andy was always an excellent golfer and even made some of his own clubs. When he "retired" from the golf course, he continued to stay active by walking every morning and did so until the last week of his life. We will all miss our Dad/Grampa so very much, including his incredible love for us - always lending support, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, a heart to care, and wisdom to pass along. We are grateful for the example of love for our Mom/Nanny that he lived every day in choosing to personally care for Noreen at their home for many years while she struggled with Alzheimer's/Lewy Body disease, it wasn't always easy but he loved her beyond measure. We are also especially thankful that he remained active and independent right up until the end, able to live his life fully, just as he always wanted. We will forever be better people for having loved, and been loved by, our Dad and Grampa.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2019