Stanley Arthur Russell Cooke – 1932-2021
Stan Cooke was educated at St John’s College, Johannesburg, and went to medical school at Guy’s in London, where he graduated in 1957. This was followed by twelve years of training in all branches of surgery (with FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Ed) in 1962), as well as research culminating in the award of a Master of Surgery in 1970. His future vocation was indicated by his time as Sir Alan Parks’s registrar at the London Hospital, and subsequently two years as Parks’s clinical assistant at St Mark’s.
In 1971 he was appointed as a consultant surgeon in the NHS, and returned to South Africa in 1975 as consultant and senior lecturer in the department of surgery at Wits, initially under Prof D J du Plessis, and later Prof J A Myburgh. Here he was able to develop his academic interest in colorectal disease, and this research continued after entering private practice.
In 1979 he commenced private practice at the Kenridge Hospital (now the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre), in partnership with John Tinker, where they earned the affection and gratitude of innumerable patients, and the respect of their colleagues, until he retired in 2006.
He introduced a number of innovations to Johannesburg: the ileo-anal pouch after proctocolectomy, post-anal repair for idiopathic incontinence, colo-anal anastomoses after excision for cancer, and colonic pull-through for radiation-induced recto-vaginal fistulae – procedures that transformed the lives of patients who would otherwise have needed stomas. At the same time he retained his honorary position with the university, teaching under- and post-graduates, and running a colonoscopy slate and an outpatient clinic.
He was a member of a number of learned societies, including the Royal Society of Medicine of London, and in South Africa, of SRS, SAGES, and ASSA, on whose committee he served for many years. In 2011 the Association honoured him with its Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of his “exceptional service to patients and the community with particular emphasis on the aspect of selfless contribution.”
His wide outside interests included sport (notwithstanding an old rugby injury that haunted him in later years), both as spectator and player, and he remained fit and active despite the demands of practice. Fascinated with nature and wildlife, he had visited most of the game reserves in southern Africa, and completed many multi-day hikes with family and friends. He was devoted to his family, and his seven grandchildren were an especial joy in later years.
Stan was a big man in every sense: big in stature (you always knew when you had been assigned to his theatre at the Kenridge, because all the gowns in those packs had been lengthened, and almost reached the floor for everyone else) and big in spirit. His nurses loved their ‘gentle giant’, and remember his courtesy, his skill in operating, his concern for his patients, and his dry sense of humour. His record-keeping was meticulous, an example of what could be achieved in a pre-digital age. The tradition he started at the Kenridge has been carried forward by the academic colorectal unit at WDGMC.
He is survived by Judy, his wife of more than 50 years, whom he met while they were both at Guy’s, and three sons, Richard, Ian and David.