Obituary of Victor Allon McPherson

It is with deep sorrow and profound respect that we announce the passing of Major General (Ret’d) Victor Allon McPherson CD, QHS, FRCSC, who died peacefully, on his 97th birthday, on June 19th, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Victor was born on June 19, 1928, to Victor and May McPherson of Calgary, Alberta. After graduating from high school in White Rock, British Columbia, he attended the University of British Columbia where he earned a Bachelor  of Arts degree and then went on to study Pre-Med in the inaugural course for the UBC medical school, graduating as a medical doctor, and as class valedictorian, for the Class of 1954. Victor also completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto from 1959-1963. 

 

While a university student, Victor joined the Canadian Armed Forces Queen's Own Rifles regiment in Victoria, BC, where he served as a regimental medical officer. His association with the Canadian military lasted for the next 30 years.

 

Victor was a veteran of the inaugural United Nations Emergency Peacekeeping Force in Eygpt (UNEF1) in 1957 and served a career with distinction, retiring as the 27th Canadian Armed Forces Surgeon General of Canada in 1982. A highly respected officer and surgeon, Victor dedicated his life to service—both to his country and to the medical profession. 

Victor’s legacy extends far beyond his uniform. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he was the heart of his family. In retirement, he realized a long-held dream by building a cherished lakeside home on Bob’s Lake, where he and his beloved wife, June, created a haven filled with laughter, warmth, and togetherness. Whether hosting family “corn boils,” or joining friends and family at “Sea Cliffs” in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for the winters, Victor and June found joy in the simple pleasures of life and the deep connections they nurtured with those they loved most.

Victor will be remembered by his children, Marilyn (John), Barbara, Victor, and John (Treasa), and by his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whose lives he shaped with love, wisdom, and integrity. Major General McPherson leaves behind a life well-lived and deeply cherished, and he will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A private family gathering to celebrate Victor’s life will take place later this summer, and his ashes will be interred beside his wife, June (nee Dillon), at Cataraqui Cemetery in Kingston, Ontario.