November 8, 1929 – March 4, 2008

Dr. Finlay Macrae Fyfe was born in Chopwell, a mining village in County Durham, England to Rosina and Finlay Macrae Fyfe who were of Scottish origin. Part of Rae’s education was in Glasgow but being interrupted by the Glasgow blitz, he returned to England. Following in his father’s footsteps, he entered medical school and graduated from the King’s College Medical School, at the University of Durham in 1952.

Rae worked with his father in their general practice until 1957, and after his father’s death, in a small group practice. His special interests were obstetrics and anesthesia, where he held posts in the local hospitals and in dental offices.

In 1956 and 1957, Rae was regimental officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps to the 11th Hussars, stationed at Hadrian’s Camp in Carlisle.

Besides the medical practice he ran a dairy farm, but his passion was horses and fox hunting with the Braes of Derwent where he was honorary whipper-in from 1969 to 1972. His children, Paul, Susan and Jane also developed a love of horses and hunting.

In late 1972, he decided to immigrate to Canada and in February 1973 arrived in Bracebridge to be part of the Greig  Medical Group as a family doctor and anesthetist. He also had regular shifts in the emergency department of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

In 1979, Rae left the Greig Clinic and opened a family practice in Bracebridge. It was a very busy time for him, still delivering babies and giving anesthetics and occasionally boating on Lake Muskoka.

In 1986, Rae and his wife Tina heard about a horse sport involving long-distance riding. As there was no fox hunting available north of Toronto they decided to give this new sport a try and became involved with the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association. Many thousands of miles were ridden on Prinz and Tiffany Mae, their half-Arabian horses in Ontario, Quebec and the U.S.A.

Upon retirement in 1996 his plan was to carry on enjoying the horses and do more travelling, but Alzheimer’s disease slowly started to take its toll and the plan never took place. He was a member of Probus and enjoyed many of the social activities. He was a familiar sight in Bracebridge walking his miniature dachshunds. Sadly, after being hit by a vehicle while walking, his head injuries, along with the slowly developing Alzheimer’s disease, entailed the necessity for more care than could be given at home, so he spent four years in residential care, first at Bracebridge Villa and the last three years at the Pines.

He leaves to mourn his beloved wife Tina, children Paul, Susan and Jane and grandchildren Tim, Claire, Stuart, Jaymie and Rachel and step-families Susan, Louise, Martin (Darlene) and their children Arrielle, Athaniel and Dashiel. Abigail is his first great-grandchild, born in England in 2005.

Rae died March 4, 2008 with Tina holding his hand. At his request there will be no funeral service or visitation. Cremation is arranged.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, March 16 at the Inn at the Falls between 3 and 5 p.m. All friends are very welcome.