No. 35 March 1999
In Memorium Dr. John A. Hopps 1919 - 1998
Dr. Jack Hopps, Past-President, a long-time Secretary General and an Honorary Life Member of the IFMBE passed away 24th November, 1998. Here are two tributes to his memory.
Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society:
It is with heavy hearts and sorrow that we report the passing of our Founding President, Dr. John A. Hopps.
A Tribute:
Dr. Hopps, who preferred to be called 'Jack', is clearly the Father of Biomedical Engineering in Canada and a scientist whose work has improved the lives of millions of people around the world. He was a leader in the medical application of engineering science for almost half a century and has left an impressive legacy of devices and instruments that have helped people with many types of disabilities. His early research was highlighted by the invention of the world’s first cardiac pacemaker, which he developed in collaboration with Dr. W.G. Bigelow and Dr. J.C. Calahan, at the Banting Institute in Toronto.
Jack's contribution to the pacemaker alone would make him an important figure in human history, but his achievement was, in fact, merely an illustration of his impact on the field of biomedical engineering. Throughout much of his career he was head of the Medical Engineering Section of the Division of Electrical Engineering at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), which he joined shortly after his graduation from the University of Manitoba in 1941. Under his leadership, this group produced a variety of inventions to help the blind, to assist people with muscular disabilities, and to advance the diagnostic uses of ultrasound. He and his colleagues also developed technologies that built upon his early cardiovascular research.
In addition to being a person of significant technical and scientific achievement, Dr. Hopps was also a national and international leader in the development of biomedical engineering as a profession. He was the Founder and first President of the Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society in 1965 and President of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering in 1971. He served as the Secretary General of the International Federation from 1976 to 1985 and General Chairman of the International Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering in 1976. From 1985 to 1988, Dr. Hopps was Secretary General of the prestigious International Union for Physical and Engineering Science in Medicine.
His numerous awards and honours include his appointment as an Officer in the Order of Canada; Merit Award of the International Union for Physical and Engineering Science in Medicine; Leadership Award of the Alliance for Engineering in Medicine and Biology ; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers General A.G.L. McNaughton Award, and Distinguished Scientist Award of the North American Society for Pacing and Electrophysiology. In addition to the above, in 1976, the University of Manitoba conferred a DSc to Jack for the development of the pacemaker and professional leadership in the field of biomedical engineering, and he was both a Fellow of the Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society and a Honorary Life Member of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.
After retiring in 1979, Jack continued to write on biomedical engineering while working with school children and serving his community in various capacities including a term as President of the Ontario Heart Foundation (Ottawa Chapter).
In 1984, Jack Hopps became a recipient of his own invention, a life-saving and essential element in modern medicine that has come to be considered routine surgery. The tiny device lasted thirteen years and was replaced in 1997, when the first battery showed signs of weakness. This great man, whose work affected people around the world, passed away on 24th November, 1998.
Jack was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, and leaves behind a daughter, Margaret, two sons, Donald and John, six grandchildren, and a great grandson.
He will be sadly missed by his family and his colleagues.
Prof Jean-Pierre Morucci (President of IFMBE):
It is with great sadness that the IFMBE community has learnt of the death of John A. Hopps. All who knew him will never be able to forget the pioneering role he played and the fantastic contribution he made to the advancement of bioengineering and the transfer of advanced technologies to medicine. His drive and charisma as President of the Federation between 1971 and 1973, followed by the action he took to solve the difficulties at the General Secretariat and assume responsibility for it under the patronage of the National Research Council of Canada between 1976 and 1985, contributed enormously to the international renown of our Federation.
On behalf of the Federation, I would like to express to the family of John A. Hopps our deepest sympathy and assure them that the name of John A. Hopps will remain for ever engraved in our memories and will always be associated with the wonderful and great history of bioengineering.