Bruce Calder Paton was born in India, where his father William Paton was serving as a physician with the Indian Medical Service. Bruce's father was accustomed to living in different countries, as he was born in Shan-t'ou China while his father (Bruce's grandfather) was a teaching missionary for the English Presbyterian Church.

Beginning at age 6, Bruce was educated in Scotland and, at 18, he joined the Royal Marines. He was a lieutenant from 1943-1946 during World War II, including serving as a member of the 41 Royal Marine Commando from 1945-1946. Following his military service, he attended medical school and received his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh. He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Bruce met Patricia Allen Ryan in 1953 while sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary. In 1955, they married in New York and then returned to Scotland and had their first son, Peter. In 1958, according to history or myth, Dr. Henry Swan (University of Colorado Medical School) and Dr. John Bruce (President, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh) were having drinks at a bar and, at 2 a.m., agreed to send Bruce to Colorado from Edinburgh to learn more about heart surgery. Bruce had difficulties obtaining an immigrant visa, so Pat had to apply for Bruce to be imported as "necessary household goods" since she was a U.S. citizen. Bruce must have been deemed necessary, because the visa was granted - something that would never be allowed today.

In 1958, Bruce and Pat and their young son Peter traveled from Scotland by boat and train to arrive in Denver. At the University of Colorado, Bruce was Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery from 1962 to 1979, and acting Dean of the School Medicine from 1978-1979. He then entered private practice, where he was a cardiac surgeon at Porter Hospital until his retirement in 1995. Over his career, he saved countless lives and altered the course of life for thousands more. He was a member of numerous medical societies (e.g., American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American Surgical Association, Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland). Along with Dr. Jack Vogel, for 27 years organized the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology held in Snowmass, Colorado. The conference attracted some of the world's leading cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. He was also Director of the Given Institute of the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aspen for 10 years. He wrote two books on the history of the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado.

He had other medical interests. Bruce was an expert on wilderness medicine and was president of the Wilderness Medicine Society from 1996-1998. He published over 150 scientific papers and 18 book chapters on topics related to frostbite, hypothermia, and other aspects of mountain medicine, and co-author on a book: Wilderness First Aid: Emergency care for remote locations . His interests in the mountains also extended to the Colorado Outward Bound School, where he was a past president.

Outside of his academic interests, Bruce was a true renaissance man and accomplished at artistic pursuits, including watercolor painting, drawing and photography. He also keenly pursued numerous outdoor activities including skiing, running, backpacking, and birding. His outdoor interests, in combination with academic pursuits, took him on trips to Kenya, Thailand, South America, and Nepal.

His keen interest in explorers spurred him to write two books: Lewis and Clark: Doctors in the Wilderness , and Adventuring with Boldness: The Triumph of Explorers .

Survived by sons Peter (Suzanne Hoover), Ian (Amy), and Allen and grandchildren (Kayla, Emma, Emily and Will), who loved him and will miss him dearly. Bruce was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 57 years, Patricia.

Memorial Service: December 14, 2019, 11 AM at Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St., Denver 80220.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Colorado Outward Bound School: https://www.cobs.org/donate/