Alfred Thornton

My Grandfather. David (talk) 23:13, 6 December 2013 (EST)

THORNTON, Alfred Thomas- Alfred Thomas Thornton of Saint John, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2009 at the Saint John Regional Hospital, at the age of 93. Born February 16, 1916 at Ipswich, England, he was educated and trained in telecommunications and radio in England. He served his country during World War II with the British Post Office Telecommunications Dept., the Royal Naval Wireless Reserve, the 11th Middlesex Home Guard, and the Royal Corps. of Signals. He started his training in electro-encephalography in England and, after emigrating with his family to Canada in 1957, continued at the Montreal Neurological Institute. While working at the Provincial Hospital in Saint John, he did research on the affect of colour on epilepsy and became the first Canadian to win the Monty Wyand Award with a paper on that subject in 1962. After setting up a new E.E.G. clinic at the Saint John General Hospital, he pioneered the use of ultrasound for the detection of tumours in the brain and the breast, and also for checking the heartbeats of unborn babies. In 1976, he established a new E.E.G. clinic at the Dr. William F. Roberts Hospital School for Children, financed by the Colonel Harland Sanders Trust Fund. Predeceased by wife Marjorie (Gayton), he is survived by 3 children: David Sr. of Toronto ON, Adrian and Glenda, both of Saint John NB; 3 grandchildren: Andrea (Ron) Rennick of Lakeville NB, David Jr. (Ashley) of Toronto ON, and Ryan (Cynthia) of Ottawa ON; 5 great grandchildren: Addison (Kaytlyn) Rennick of Fredericton NB, Sarah, Meaghan, and Emma Rennick of Lakeville NB, and Hunter of Ottawa ON.

According to his wishes, there will be no funeral service. Cremation has taken place at Fernhill Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Rd (646-2424) on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 1:00-4:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Alzheimer’s Society of Saint John, Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick, Saint John Free Public Library, Admiral Beatty Seniors Social Club, and the David Suzuki Foundation. To send a message of condolence or to sign the memorial guest book please visit www.fundyfuneralhome.com