Celebration of Life

Surrounded by his loving family, William "Bill" Stewart Dixon, MD, FRCS(C), passed away peacefully, in Palliative Care at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on June 15, 2025. Bill faced his mantle cell lymphoma diagnosis in 2020 and subsequent health crises with the same quiet calm he exhibited throughout his life and career. Bill had complete trust in the scientific knowledge and medical expertise of his colleagues, and his resilience in the face of illness and uncertainty gave his family the strength we needed for the journey together. Each day offered time with Sylvia, family, and friends; opportunities to learn; laughter and joy. Bill lived with purpose, and every day we had with him was a good day.

Bill leaves Sylvia, his devoted wife of 60 years; and his cherished sons, Ross (Joanna), and John (Christine). Loving Grandad to Silas and Imogen (Ross and Joanna); William, Luke, Graham, Danielle, and Claire (John and Christine). Older brother to Dr. Joan Dixon (Hugh Paisley); and Uncle Bill to Geoffrey, Douglas, Alixe and their families. He leaves many cousins and was the much-loved "Fourth Brother" of Jim, Gord, and Dave Stewart. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Elizabeth Stewart and Dr. Garnett Dixon.

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Bill attended UTS, where he began a lifelong friendship with Robert Kelly that carried them on parallel paths to the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, and then into Ophthalmology. Their brotherly friendship expanded to include wives and children, filling both families' lives with joy.

After Bill returned from England following a Fellowship in Corneal Transplantation and External Disease at Moorfields Eye Hospital, he joined the staff at Sunnybrook. Bill devoted 50 years of commitment to patient care and academia, with 23 years as Sunnybrook's Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, while also holding other leadership roles within the hospital and across the province. "Dr. D" was instrumental in forming a dedicated Ophthalmology department at Sunnybrook that delivers excellence in patient care, teaching, and research.

Bill maintained a career-long association with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and served many years on the board. He made trips to northern Ontario in the early days of the CNIB Eye Van, and volunteered in Africa with Orbis.

The Dixon Family Chair in Ophthalmology Research at Sunnybrook Research Institute (donated by the late Ted and Loretta Rogers) honoured Bill's commitment to patient care and support of discovery science research.

A gifted surgeon, Bill's mentorship was honoured many times by residents and colleagues, including the Silver Needle Award and the 2013 creation of the Dr. William Dixon Sunnybrook Surgical Teaching Award. In 2022, Bill was recognized by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society with their Lifetime Achievement award.

Before the establishment of the Trillium Gift of Life Network, Bill devoted countless volunteer hours advocating for the Eye Bank of Canada, and the donation of human tissue. He started with eyes, though as transplantation medicine evolved, he never passed up an opportunity to speak out for other tissue, organ and bone banks in appearances on TV, radio, and as a guest speaker at conferences and service clubs. Dr. Dixon served for over 25 years as a Medical Director of the Eye Bank of Canada (Ontario Division).

Bill loved to read, especially in his favourite chair in the corner of the porch at the family cottage in the 1000 Islands. Classical music in his operating room was standard. Choral music and the symphony were regularly enjoyed with Sylvia and friends, as was theatre, especially Stratford and the 1000 Islands Playhouse. "Saturday Afternoon at The Opera" resounded in his home office as he dictated letters and read journals. Bill was selectively appreciative of jazz, notably a fan of Oscar Peterson. Bill was a keen-eyed photographer, always more comfortable behind the lens than in front. Travel adventures in retirement with Sylvia afforded Bill opportunities to capture and share glimpses of the world they experienced together.

We could all count on Bill's bone-dry wit to lighten any moment, and the sudden appearance of a mischievous twinkle often signalled the arrival of great levity. The grandchildren all came to know Grandad as a source of hugs, support, waffles, spareribs, and a refuge of calm reassurance when troubled by injury, illness or mysterious physical ailments. Grandad's patient lessons in cribbage, fishing, boating, photography and home repair were educational moments with a most remarkable teacher. Time with Bill was always fun and ended too soon.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on November 22, 2025, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2737 Bayview Avenue, Toronto.

In remembrance and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation toward the proposed Dr. William S. Dixon Professorship in Cornea Discovery Science Research at the University of Toronto's Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (https://uoft.me/WilliamDixon). To contribute by other means, please contact University of Toronto Donations Management at 416-978-1221 or donations.management@utoronto.ca