DR.GEORGE SIGURD BALFOUR of Lethbridge, loving and devoted husband of Mrs. May Balfour, passed away in Lethbridge on December 15, 2010, at the age of 90 years.

Born January 17, 1920 in Edmonton, Sig was raised and educated there and in Grande Prairie. He began his medical training at the U of Alberta in 1937, graduating from medical school in January 1943. He served as a medical officer and instructor in ski mountaineering the following year in Jasper with the Lovat Scouts. After brief service at Suffield and in southern England, Sig was posted to Italy with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. While in Italy, he was in charge of an advance section of the Canadian Field Ambulance where he endured shelling, and later ran a Field Hospital in Holland.

Following the war, Sig returned home and served at the Col. Belcher Hospital in Calgary, and later attended McGill University where he completed his post graduate studies in Internal Medicine. In 1947, Sig married Katharine Strong of Calgary. They lived in Montreal and Saranac Lake, NY, before settling in Lethbridge in December of 1950, where Sig and some colleagues formed the Campbell Clinic. He retired in 1988 after 38 years of service. Following Kay's death, Sig married May Syme in 1990 in Lethbridge, where they resided at the time of his passing.

Sig was instrumental developing the Intensive Care Units at both St. Michael's and the Municipal (Regional) Hospitals, founded the Cardiac Pacemaker Clinic, attained Fellowships in the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, the American College of Physicians, and the American College of Cardiology, and often served as a regional director of same. His many interests included skiing, sailing, golf, hiking, travelling and reading, particularly military history and politics.

Sig was a longtime dedicated Rotarian, an original Friend of the U of L, serving on its Board of Governors, as well as on the Lethbridge Police Commission, and Library Board. He was a Director of the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation for 25 years (and the originator of its name), and was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Gen. Stewart Branch #4 at the time of his passing.

Left behind to mourn his passing are his beloved wife May, his sister Kay (Judd) Buchanan and family, his children Dr. David (Mary) Balfour, Susan (Roger) Hughes, John (Shelley) Balfour, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, as well as May's children David (Louise) Syme, Bill (Trish) Syme, Jack (Karen) Syme, Gordon (Marcie) Syme, Stephen Syme, Russell (Ally) Syme, and eight grandchildren.

Sig was predeceased by his father Harry and mother Gerda (nee Wolff), first wife Katharine and brother James.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am, on Thursday, December 30, 2010, at the MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPELS, 610 - 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Reverend Larry Hankinson, officiating.

Sig's was a life well-lived in the service of his fellow man. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Box 2211, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4K7, are appreciated.