Woodlands Hospital Director Dr Wallace Irving Lee has died.
He was 87.
Lee, who had also served as a general surgeon at the hospital, passed away yesterday shortly as a result of an undisclosed illness, Woodlands confirmed in a public notice. Lee had worked at Woodlands Hospital since it opened on June 2nd, 1969, according to a biography posted on the Hospital’s website.
According to the biography, ‘Mr. Lee,’ or ‘Bud,’ as he is known by his friends and colleagues, was born in Georgetown on July 14th, 1932 to Lucy and Aldwyn Lee, who had two others sons. He loved music, sports and reading and had represented Guyana in squash and badminton.
Lee attended Christ Church Primary School and Queen’s College, where he had the distinction of being a head boy. After completing his secondary education, he went on to study medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI). Just before leaving for University he was called for trials for the Guyana cricket side but opted to complete his education instead. After UWI, he enrolled at the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeon in Edinburgh.
When he returned to Guyana, he worked as a consultant in surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he did all the specialties in surgery including orthopaedics, urology and neurology. He also worked at Prasad’s Hospital, Medical Arts Centre and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
He married Marlene Lee and had two sons, Richard and Bruce, along with a daughter, Diane.
The biography said he has always strived and encouraged the staff of Woodlands to provide the best possible service for its patients.
Lee’s contribution to medicine did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement and, later, the Cacique Crown of Honour.
A wake is to be held tomorrow at 7 pm at the Woodlands Hospital.
