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"A Family Tradition for 127 Years" ' PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 11, 1993 - 13 Dr. McNab retires from dentistry By Julia Dempsey Port Perry Star It was nearing the end of the work day on Thursday, May 6 when a young man hurried into Dr. Robert McNab's office. _ Apologizing profusely for be- ing two minutes late, the young, personable chap sat himself down in the dentist's chair and asked "Am I the last patient to- day?" to which Dr. McNab re- plied, "You're my last patient, period!" The man looked at his dentist in amazement and said, "You've got to be kidding." But he wasn't. After 42 years of dentistry -- approximately 15 of them being the only dentist in Port Perry -- Dr. McNab has re- tired. "Instead of saying 'open please', I can now say 'close please'," he says. The Port Perry Star had re- quested an interview with Dr. McNab to talk about his life and years in dentistry, but when we arrived we found he had already composed his thoughts on paper. Although he gave us the right to change the copy any way we wished, we felt it was a beauti- ful piece. He proudly talks about his family, the circumstances that led him to practice dentistry in Port Perry, the many friend- ships he has made over the years, and what he plans to do during his retirement years. %k %k %k Xk k By Dr. Robert McNab When Julia Dempsey called from the Port Perry Star re- questing an interview concern- ing my retirement, that same evening I started reminiscing and then thought to myself why not give her a break from ques- tions and composing. So I imme- diately started writing some thoughts which came to mind. My first thought was what would the interest be to inter- view a person who has just done ajob to earn a living for my fami- ly when that is what every other able-bodied person does? In oth- er words "it's no big deal." My second thought was a sense of guiltin thatin mylatter years I have not done more in the community. I have concen- trated more on keeping myself physically fit by regularly at- tending the Civic Centre in Oshawa doing fast walking and swimming as dentistry over the years becomes a very stressful occupation. In former years, I did contribute a little as I held the office of president of the Li- ons Club, served on the public school board and was active in the Chamber of Commerce. So, I guess in retrospect it does bal- ance out. Some may find my next re- marks boring, some may find them interesting. Our oldest son, Brian, is an M.D. practicing in Kingston and has one son. Our second son, James, teaches at Uxbridge Secondary School, has a son and a daughter and lives near Little Britain. Our daughter, Alison, graduated from Queen's University in the Honor Theatre Arts program and is at present practicing the Don't Miss the PORT PERRY : ROME SHOW May 14 to 16 at the : Port Perry Arena. : : ~ Free Admission ~ § £ ~ Free Parking ~ art of homemaker to a husband and twin boys in Lindsay. I was born in my parents' home in a small village near Stirling, Scotland. My father followed his father by emigrat- ing to Oshawa when I was two years old and he found immedi- ate employment in the Engi- neering Department of General Motors where he stayed until retirement. I engaged in many different types of employment while a student at Oshawa's only high school (now O'Neill Collegiate) and at the University of Toronto - namely G. M. office and facto- ry, McNamara Marine, Belko Construction and the R. S. McLaughlin Estate farm (now Windfield's Farm). The farm manager at the time was Doug Farndale's father. The remu- neration was $10 a week but the work certainly gave you an ap- petite if you could tolerate eat- ing after cleaning out pig pens. During the Second World War, I was a member of the On- tario Tank Regiment (Reserve) so after graduating from high school, I enlisted in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. I was fortunate to be selected in the Officer Training Program and graduated a day before my 19th birthday to become the youngest officer in the Corps. On discharge in 1946, I was ac- cepted in the Faculty of Dentist- ry, University of Toronto, in the 2nd veteran's class and gradu- ated in 1951. In my final year, I re-enlisted in the Army and upon graduation became a Cap- tainin the Royal Canadian Den- tal Corps. My financial assistance while at university came from my wife Joan's employment (we will have been happily married for 45 years come June), the De- partment of Veterans' Affairs (at that time the $60 a month they paid to veterans was very helpful) and also by playing for the Boyd Valleau Orchestra (which incidentally was started when I was in high school). Some Port Perry residents probably danced to our orches- tra at the Jubilee Pavilion in Oshawa. While at university we played at such places as the Pa- lais Royale, Casa Loma, the Royal York Hotel and many uni- versity dances at U. of T. and DR. R. McNAB Queen's University. While play- ing at the Castle we broadcast across Canada on the CBC radio network. Shirley Harmer, our vocalist, went on to further her career singing with the Paul Whiteman orchestrain the U.S. We sometimes played three times a week so studying was of- ten a problem. After three years in the ser- vice working in dental clinics in Montreal, St. Hubert, P. Q., and Trenton, I accumulated enough money to obtain my release and I began to look for a place to Practice not too far from my ometown of Oshawa. By coincidence, Dr. Dymond and Dr. Rennie were enlarging their clinic, one of the reasons being to attract a dentist to join them. Dr. and Mrs. Dymond were a great help when we first arrived and made us feel very welcome. They now are our next door neighbors. The first prob- lem was housing as, believe it or not, at that time there were no real estate agents in Port Perry -- afarcry from today. The only person I knew in Port Perry was Ted Griffen (through our orchestra inter- . ests) and he became a trusted friend and probably the best ambassador for small towns and Port Perry in particular that I have ever met during all my years here. After 42 years of dentistry, approximately 15 of them being the only dentist in Port Perry, I IB'S 8TH ANNUAL PIG ROAST May 22nd, 1993 Live Gountry/Rock Fast Featuring -- * Yesteryear * Red Line * Fullcount Blues Band + The Hounds + Blindside + The Mission + Tom Cormiea » Dennis and The Deralicks * Kick'r * R.J. Express + Stumble & Fall i a % I ---------- B.Y.O.B. Cans Only Party begins at at Edgars Farm on the Island FREE OVERNIGHT CAMPING (No Hookups) Advance tickets available at Native Perspectives in Port Perry. *10 Advance /*12 at Door. Proceeds go to Scugog Island Community Centre. For more information call SEAN at PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE feel it is time that I stop to smell the roses. Instead of saying "open please", I can now say "close please". Port Perry is fortunate to have an adequate supply of . young, competent dentists and this also played a part in my de- cision. Port Perry Dental Centre has agreed to take over my practice and Dr. Michael Garfat, one of the associates, seems very pleased to keep it going without interruption, looking after any of my former patients who wish to continue coming to the same office. My right arm for many years, Judy Soomre, has attempted to personally inform all my former WET BASEMENT? 7 Our customers save up to 50% over other methods 7 No digging inside or outside patients of my decision. Anyone she has been unable to reach, please accept my apologies as it was notintentional. I now hope to be able to spend more time at our cottage on Washburn Island, play more golf, continue my hobbies of stained glass, pressed flower ar- rangements and philately, as well as be more active in Vaned- ward Investments of which I am a member. I would also like to start curling again, do some travelling and spend more time with our grandchildren. To all my former patients, I would like to say thank you for your loyalty and patronage over these years. 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