Obituary of Paul Nonamaker

Dr. E. Paul Nonamaker, M.D.C.M. - F.R.C.S. {C} 85, passed away Sunday, August 12th.2001 at the South Shore Regional Hospital. Dr. Nonamaker was born at Wentzell’s Lake, Lunenburg County, and the son of the late Rev. Edgar V. Nonamaker and Erna {Wentzell} Nonamaker. He received his early education at Mahone Bay and the Lunenburg Academy. His pre-medical education was at Mount Allison and Dalhousie Universities. He graduated from the Dalhousie Medical School and proceeded into the Armed Services as a Medical Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served in Canada, England and in North West Europe. Following hostilities and returning from Overseas, he was in the first group of Surgical Residents established by Dalhousie University. He received his Fellowship in Surgery from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1948. His special interests were in Abdominal and Thoracic Surgery. In 1951 he received his Specialist’s Certificate in Thoracic Surgery from the Royal College. Dr. Nonamaker was one of the pioneers in Thoracic Surgery in the Atlantic Provinces. His early surgery in Thoracic work was performed at the Halifax Tuberculosis Hospital on Morris Street, in Halifax. After 1957, all tuberculosis surgery was directed to the Kentville Sanatorium and thoracic surgery in Halifax shifted from Tuberculosis and Bronchiectosis to surgery for Carcinoma of the Lung. He was responsible for establishing the first service for Thoracic Surgery at the Victoria General Hospital. Dr. Nonamaker was Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Victoria General Hospital for approximately 20 years. Over the years Dr. Nonamaker held staff appointments at Stadecona Naval Hospital, the Halifax Infirmary, the Children’s Hospital and the Camphill Hospital and was Associate Professor of Surgery at Dalhousie University until his retirement in 1986. Dr. Nonamaker was a member of the Halifax, Nova Scotia and Canadian Medical Associations and a Life Member of the Canadian Medical Protective Association. In 1957, he was elected to the Canadian Association of Clinical Surgeons. Dr. Nonamaker made several presentations to the Royal College of Surgeons and was author and co-author of publications on “Cancer of the Lung “ and “ Chest Injuries “. He served on the Council of the Royal College and as an examiner for the Fellowship examinations of the Royal College. He was appointed to the Senate of Dalhousie University in 1967 as a representative of the Faculty of Medicine and served for a three year term. He is a Member of the Phi Rho Sigma Medical Fraternity. He was elected to memberships at Dalhousie University of Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Nonamaker was a former member of the Halifax Curling Club and a member of Ashburn Golf and Country Club for 45 years {1992}, and the Maritime Seniors Golf Association. Dr. Nonamaker lived in Halifax and at the Head of St. Margaret’s Bay during his professional life and in 1991 moved to Wentzell’s Lake to the property that had been in his family form the days of his great grandfather. There he enjoyed a leisurely life pursuing his love of gardening. He is survived by his wife of 59 years the former Vivian May Graham; son, David Paul Graham [Margaret} and their son Mark and daughter Cheryl {Martin} Miller-Crispe; great-grandson Joshua and twin great-granddaughters Sai and Tia Miller-Crispe, all of Surfers Paradise, N.S.W., Australia; daughter, Carole Vivian { Ian } Campbell and their sons Christopher, Paul and Timothy; daughter Andrea Jane { Greg } Rockwell and their son Gregory; son, Graham William { Marian } and their son Adam and daughters Laura and Leah. He is also survived by sister Ruth Daley, niece Dr. Heather MacKinnon, Halifax and Chester, and nephew Donald, British Columbia; sister Hilda Kelley {Bill} and niece Peggy and nephews Bruce and Paul Kelley, Bridgewater. He was predeceased by his sister Helen Shaw {Ted}, British Columbia and a brother, Billy, in childhood. Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mahone Bay at 4 p.m. Wednesday August 15th. 2001, Rev. William L. Gustafson officiating. There will be family visitations only. Donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, West Northfield, R.R. # 2, Bridgewater, N.S. B4V 2W1 c/o Greta Veinot.