Faculty's oldest known graduate passes away
Respected alumnus, Dr Joe Baron, who was up to now the Faculty's oldest known graduate, died on 29 May 2013, two weeks short of his 102nd birthday. Dr Baron was featured in delightful interviews as part of our centenary celebrations in UCT Alumni News and the Faculty's centenary film, 'The Faculty of Health Sciences at 100 years' .
Born in Bulawayo, Joseph Baron excelled academically, racking up six As in the London Matric Exam in 1928. He came to UCT on a Beit Scholarship, having come first in Rhodesia in the Scholarship examination. He was awarded a Rhodesia Government scholarship and a UCT scholarship to attend UCT (a total of 100 Pounds per annum was adequate to cover all his tuition and residence fees).
He obtained a first class in every subject in his first year and was always top of his class. He won the Public Health Medal and was runner up for the Psychiatry Medal. He spent the first 3 years in Men's Residence (which was opened in 1928 and later became known as Smuts Hall).
During the last three years of his MBChB he lived at University House in the Gardens which made it easy to get to Somerset Hospital, UCT's Teaching Hospital before Groote Schuur was built. He was on the House Committee at University House and played rugby for UCT for the under 19B rugby team and sometimes for the under 19A team. Later he played the 3rd reserve for the A XV. He also boxed for University House.
Dr Joe Baron graduated with an MBChB in December 1934. After graduating, he became a house surgeon in the eye and ear, nose and throat department at Somerset and then house physician to Dr DP Marais. In 1936 he became house physician at the City Hospital for Infectious Diseases. He did locums for various GP's to whom he was recommended by Professor Frankie Forman. Among his many interesting cases was his first one in Ceres - a cow with Puerperal Fever - which he treated with Quinine. In other remote areas, another 'patient' included a horse who had lacerated his hind leg on a barbed wire and who required suturing, and a person whose teeth he had to remove.
Earning a guinea a day for locums, Dr Baron was able to afford a berth on the Union Castle liner to Southampton in 1937. During a stint as a house surgeon at the Royal Hospital Wolverhampton he met his future wife, Gwen, a theatre nurse.
In 1939, while sailing to Durban intent on starting his own practice in Bulawayo, World War 2 was declared. He sailed back to England, enlisted, and married Gwen in Shrewsbury on 8 February 1940. Dr Baron was a decorated soldier (he had the rank of major, and a Military Cross for bravery at the battle of El Alamein in the Western Desert).
After the war Dr Baron developed an interest in obstetrics, obtaining his D(Obst)RCOG in England. The family settled in the former Rhodesia where in 1961 he was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for 14 years' service in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Rhodesian Regiment, and for noteworthy service in Nyasaland.
In 1980 Dr Baron relocated from Bulawayo to Cape Town, and worked in the Medical Outpatient Department at Groote Schuur Hospital. In 1984 he organised his UCT Medical School 50 year class reunion in Cape Town. After retiring, he continued to work at a rheumatology clinic until age 88, when he became an honorary consultant physician at Groote Schuur Hospital.
He is survived by his son, Peter, a paediatric cardiologist based in Phoenix, US and his daughter, Hilary Lavi, who lives in Israel. His wife, Gwen, died in 2012. Due to her ill health at the time, and his wish to stay at her bedside, he was unable to join the Faculty in celebrating our centenary birthday on 6 June.
We extend our sincerest condolences to Dr Baron's family. May they find strength in the wonderful memories and legacy left by their father.
Prof Susan Kidson
Interim Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences