Stuart MCCOWAN Obituary

Mr McCowan did my last operation at Middlemore Hospital way back in May 1987 i was born with clubfeet i can still remember as a Sixteen year old i hope this bloke knows whats he is doing (up until this point Harley Grey had done all of my surgerys at Middlemore) I can remember some laughter and Mum saying thats not appropriate.i have to say that what Mr McCowan did is still working fine to ths day.
I am sorry to hear of his passing.
Michael OKane

Mr. McCowan

I had the honor working for you in 2020. For me, it was an epic orthopaedic rotation.

You demonstrated all the fine characters of a true surgeon. To me, you were not just another consultant, but also a teacher, mentor, a fine gentleman I look up to.

I remembered everyone in the team enjoyed coming to work (this is unusual). We got excited on Tuesday, our team´s on call day. The trauma meeting is always educational, and most importantly: fun!

Our team´s grand round and coffee on Thursday, such a highlight of the week! Many legendary stories got passed on.

You are charismatic, people enjoy having you around.
You are respectable and trustworthy, people seek guidance from you.
You treat us gently, a fine character that is hard to find these days.
You offered your time, patience and knowledge to us who had little or knew nothing.

Many fine memories I will cherish forever:
I remembered you walked me through your last hip joint replacement one step at a time.
I remembered our last team ward round and team coffee on level 3.
I remembered you invited me to your place for dinner and spent an hour helping me on my interview.
I remembered you were so happy knowing I got on the orthopaedic training program.

I´m glad we kept in touch after you moved to Point View. But sadly, we cannot do this anymore.

People say all good things must come to an end. But to me these great memories will never fade. Thank you for everything!

Stuart was my best friend.
We first met at Medical School in 1971.
We lived together for 4 of our 6 years at Medical School.
108 Great South Road was a lot of fun with many memories.
We both trained as Orthopedic Surgeons and graduated together.
We shared common interests. We boated together, we fished together in Auckland, on the West Coast of the South Island, in Nantucket and Florida.
We both loved Wanaka and had houses there.
We operated together both in NZ and Boston.
I always admired Stuart's level head, values, advice and companionship.
We never once had a disagreement. I always respected his advice and counsel.
I still think of him every day and will do so for the rest of my life.
I loved that guy and always will.
I miss him.
Greg Brick

Mr McCowan was my surgeon through some very hard times - hip replacement and subsequent revision. He ensured I received the best of care and 27 years later, my titanium hip continues to serve me well. You have gone way too soon, Mr McCowan, but I will always remember your kindness and friendliness and the updates on your fun activities with a mutual friend and their family - Robyn & Jerry Cowley - whenever I had cause to see you. Condolences to your family and the Cowleys. I know they will miss you so very much. Rest in love & peace, and thank you for giving me quality of life for so many years. Nga mihi aroha. Ann Wihongi Moynihan, Meadowbank, Auckland.

Stuart was a valued classmate at Mount Albert Grammar and at Auckland University Medical School. He was an excellent specialist for my patients I referred by kind courteous and respectful. He had a welcoming bedside manner. He was knowledgeable and gracious in his management of my patients and an exceptional clinician. I appreciated his compassion and caring commitment.
My shared sorrow and sympathy for Leslie and Tom and Laurie. He will be mourned and deeply missed but will always remain a treasured memory of those who loved him most.

Stuart looked after me through a major infection of my hip, later replacing the hip joint. He gave me 24 years of mobility for which I'll be eternally grateful. Over the years, I met others of his patients and we all held him in the highest regard. R.I. P. Stuart. You were a good man.

Stu .You were always there for me ..,coming in and out of my life from when we were knee high.Amen to your generous spirit ,level head, all round capability, and wicked mischief.At least you would get us out of what you got us in to . Go rest high on that mountain Cuz.A life well lived..Ross n Julie

He was a good surgeon to work with, always pleasant and a broad smile to boot. So sad news, my sincere condolences to the family.
Colin Stonelake R.N (Retd).

My very sincere condolences to the McCowan family. I had the pleasure of scrubbing for Stu many times during the late 80's and 90's, both at Middlemore Hospital and Mercy Hospital. He was a lovely man, excellent surgeon and respectful to the nurses. Leona Higgins

Such sad news... Stuart gave me new hips . .in 2006 and 2011 ... and here I am today still well and fit at 79... .. so very very grateful to him.....never forgotten...

It was a privilege to have known and worked with this wonderful person. Sending our sincere condolences to you, Lesley and all the family.
Sincerely,
Tim and Kay Lynskey

Dear Lesley,
Our thoughts are with you and your Family at this sad time. Bigs hugs from Ross and Sherral Wills (née Girven)

To Stuart's family, I'm so sorry to hear of Stuart's passing, with still so much life to live. Stuart was an old school mate at primary school in Pukekohe and we bumped into each other a few times over the years...a knee op and school reunions. Thinking of you at this sad time, Christine Hopkins (nee Estall).

Dear Lesley,
What a mentor and teacher Stu was to so many of us. I am shocked and heavy-hearted for you and Stu.
Stu was my first boss as a registrar in 1997, and guided and taught me, even coming to Hastings for a practice visit about 6 years ago where his teaching continued. We had great catch-ups at foot and ankle conferences.
His legacy is immense, and a generation of surgeons are indebted to his teaching and care for us.
My deepest sympathy to you all.

Congratulations Stuart on a life well lived. You were truly admired throughout the medical fraternity and your partnership with Lesley was enviable. On both a professional and personal level you were always a delight to deal with. My memories hark back to medical school days and social rugby teams. My deepest sympathies to Lesley and the family. Travel in peace.

Stuart looked after me as a patient I´m forever grateful to him a special man I´m so grateful to have known him condolences to the family

Stu,
You were a giant of a man in every sense. One of my very best mates in the world; our shared history dating back to 1989 when I was a 2nd year house surgeon, through registrar training where you guided me with a firm but gentle hand, and into our private practice over a 25 year period. You always showed compassion for the person who had nothing, you were principled often to your detriment. Your work ethic was immense, your commitment to the public hospital indubitable, your friendship unwavering.
But what stood out to me always was your irrefutable humility, your tolerance and lack of judgment and your wise counsel at times of need, along with the many laughs and shared conversations in the "Eastwood corridor", later our offices at Domain Orthopaedics. I feel truly privileged to have known you as well as I did, and will never forget the influence and support you gave me over the course of my career, and the kindness and generosity you showed Jane, along with all of my children. You were truly cast in a one-off mold, and the boys from the practice will be toasting you tonight and sharing such special memories of a truly great man. Vale Stuart, donec in altera vita conveniant

Stu was an excellent orthopaedic surgeon, always helpful, kind and caring to all.
We will miss him at
Matakana, Omaha and Point Wells

To Lesley, Laurie, Tom, Georgie, Al and rest of family.
I have great memories of time spent with Stu and family during my formative years as a teenager and young man. The McCowan household was always a safe space for myself and my adolescent peers. Tom and I, along with Laurie, would also have plenty of laughs and pranks at Stu's expense who played along wonderfully - however I can remember an instance when Tom decided to put a sun-baked pilchard down Stu's undies - a step too far haha. Fantastic memories of long summers at Moureeses Bay spent fishing, boating and snorkeling. Also on the Hauraki Gulf. I spent countless weekends at the McCowan household and the door was always open - always plenty of good food and drinks. A man of principle, hard work and humour. I rue that I had not had the opportunity to speak to Stu for at least the past decade - life (as it tends to do) happened and got in the way.... if I could, I would just say thank you for letting a shy young man into your home and allowing me to make mistakes as a young man without judgement. Thanks for the fun and laughs. I cherish the memories and the impression you left upon me and many of my peers is indelible. Your legacy lives on with the two great men you raised in Tom and Laurie and I'm sure will continue with Allister and beyond.
Until we meet again,
Folco Faber xx

To Lesley and family
Send our condolences to you all.
Stuart was a legend in his field.
Kind regards
Dave and Karen Booth