With great sadness, we learned of the passing of Dr. Harold A. Stein on January 31, 2021. Dr. Stein was the longest-serving Chief of Ophthalmology in Scarborough Health Network’s history and a proud supporter of SHN Foundation.

A world-renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Stein is remembered both for his trailblazing work in the field and for his kindness and compassion. Beginning his practice at our General hospital, only two years after it was built, the ophthalmologist with plastic surgery training quickly found his skills in high demand.

His work soon caught the attention of SHN’s then Chief of Staff, who appointed him Chief of Ophthalmology, a position he held for 35 years. Dr. Stein also found time to serve as a professor with the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine and at the UofT Medical School, authoring more than 35 books and hundreds of papers for medical journals. Dr. Stein’s son Raymond, also an ophthalmologist, followed in his father’s footsteps as Chief of Ophthalmology with SHN. Clearly, the Steins' connection to SHN is rooted in family.

A lifelong advocate for ophthalmology and health care in Scarborough, Dr. Stein included a planned gift in his estate to SHN Foundation to ensure we can continue building a brighter, healthier future for everyone who calls Scarborough home. In recognition of this generous gift, we proudly named the patient registration area at our General hospital in honour of Dr. Stein and his wife, Anne.

While we mourn the passing of one of the pillars of SHN’s history, we also celebrate a life lived to its fullest, making his mark on his family, his patients and the entire medical community.