Fall Issue, 2014

Dr Solomon Bard 白爾德 1916 – 2014 (MBBS 1939; Hon DLitt 1976 ) Dr Bard, founder of the University Health Service, passed away in Sydney in November 2014 at the age of 98. Born in Siberia and schooled in Harbin, Dr Bard was one of five students who managed to graduate in 1939 out of 45 classmates and was awarded the Anderson Gold Medal, an award bestowed annually to the medical graduate with the highest aggregate marks for the entire course. He reconnected with HKU in 1956 when he joined as a University Health Officer (later University Health Director) to build a healthcare service for the University population, the first of its kind in Hong Kong. He served in this capacity for twenty years. His passion for archaeology also made him one of the founders of the University Archaeological Team, which was established in 1956. An accomplished violinist, he was for many years the leader of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and later of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra before moving permanently to Australia in 1993. Over the years, he was awarded the military MBE for his services in the Hong Kong Defence Force in 1968; the civil OBE in 1975, and the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa by HKU in 1976 in recognition of his many and varied contributions, from music to medicine to archaeology. Sources: Citation of the 93 rd Congregation, HKU “Light and Shade - Sketches from an Uncommon Life” Dr Bard standing at the background of Queen Mary Hospital during its construction in 1936. Prisoners-of-war in Sham Shui Po Camp in 1942. Standing from left: Dr Solomon Bard, Sir Albert Rodrigues 羅理基 (MBBS 1935; Hon LLD 1962), former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. Dr Solomon Bard, aged 93, at his book launch in 2009. InMemoriam 56