A tribute to Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes (1924 - 2006)

A tribute to Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes (1924 - 2006)

Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes

1924 - 2006

About Sir Brian | Photo Gallery | Tributes | Brief Tributes | Legacy | Edit Site

Remembering Home | Memorial Search | Contact Remembering

Thank you for visiting Sir Brian's memorial.
This family memorial and tribute book has been established so
that family and friends can record condolences and anecdotes

Messages can be recorded as brief tributes or as longer condolences.
Just scroll down or click on the brief tribute link to the right
to record your thoughts.

Always in our hearts

This memorial site was created in memory of, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes, who was born on January 13, 1924 and died on March 8, 2006.

Pioneering heart surgeon Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes is now at rest. He died today while undergoing a heart valve operation in the United States.

Sir Brian has long been recognised as one of our Kiwi Greats. He and his medical team at Auckland's Greenlane Hospital achieved international acclaim for the work they did. In the course of this he earned the utmost respect of his collegues and the love and grattitude of his patients.

Sir Brian was recognised as a man with a strong single focus on the goals he set, a personality trait recognised by Christiaan Barnard in the introduction given by him to Barratt-Boyes' 1986 biography "From the Heart". Barnard said:

"I had the privilege of meeting Sir Brian at Green Lane Hospital in Auckland where his surgical unit had achieved an international reputation. What struck me was his single-mindedness - a clear-sighted striving towards a goal and a vision.

"Little wonder that he refused to suffer bureaucratic limitations on his work and plans. Having gone down that same road, I can identify strongly with his epic fights with bureaucracy for a better deal for his unit and an improved health service for his country.

"Fame he had, fortune he spurned - turning down lucrative overseas offers and preferring instead to stay with the team he had built up and the country of his birth."

Sir Brian made history by developing techniques to replace defective heart valves, which attracted immense overseas attention and brought many patients to New Zealand. He also found new ways to treat babies born with heart defects.

He held the post of Head of the hospital's Heart Surgery Unit for almost a quarter of a century and was Knighted at the age of 47 for his outstanding contribution.

Only last year Sir Brian received a Distinguished Alumini Award from the Mayo Clinic in the United States. The award acknowledges and shows appreciation for the national and international contributions and accomplishments made to the field of medicine in medical practice, education and research.

Click here to record your condolences or
place a tribute to Sir Brian

Message from Daryn Wilkin - Patient
on:28/10/2009
I first met Sir Brian while I was a patient at Greenlane Hospital. I had been treated with sub acute SBE and needed a Aortic Valve replacement as a result of the bacterial infection damage that the valve had suffered. I met Sir Brian the day before (my surgury was August 30 1988) and we talked about the operation. He really put my mind at ease and I felt pretty relaxed about the pending procedure. The next morning Sir Brian met with my perants and he recognised my father who had made several of Sir Brians' original surgical instruments. They were very comfortable in him doing what was needed, and I am more than pleased with Sir Brians' work as I still have the Aortic valve that he put in to this day, more than 20 years later. Thank You Sir Brian for the work that you did back in 1988. You will be missed.

Message from Derrick Hodgson - neighbour and friend of his boys
on:29/05/2009
I lived behind Brian when he lived in Rahiri Rd Mt Eden. He was a softly spoken person and a good family man. I was friends with his boys (mostly Stephen). His home was basically my home as I seemed to be there all the time playing. His wifc at the time was Norma she was also a lovely person albeit very slow in everything she did! Iwill never forget this man (or his family) as he was part of my growing up as a child. I do think I tested him sometimes as I was a naughty little boy, I spose mischievous would be the right word. I hope he found happiness in his later years.

Message from Danielle Watson - i am
on:20/05/2009
i am working on sir brian and he is sooooooooo cool i have got sooooo much info about him here is some he was born on 13 january 1924 in wellington he died on the 8 of march 2006 thank you

Message from Danielle watson - he help my dad
on:20/05/2009
sir brian helped my dad 2 times whan his was little

Message from Tan Kar Wee - Former patient
on:03/04/2009
I am from Singapore and when I was merely two years old in 1985, throwing up every morsel of food and milk put into me, Sir Brian repaired my ventricular septal defect. Medical science then was not as astounding as it is today but after the surgery, I never had to undergo any other medical treatment or take any medication for my condition. I have a Bachelor's Degree with Honours in English Literature. I was President of my University's Literary Society and President of a national-level youth arts group. I have interned at the local news broadcast station as a reporter. I have traveled across Asia. I am now a Junior College teacher and I expect to get married and start a home in the near future. I will be 26 this year. Thank you Sir Brian. You gave me my life. I regret never having the chance to say thank you to you in person. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Click here to view all tributes

This memorial was created by
Remembering
on 08/03/2006

To send an email to
the manager of this memorial
Click here

This page has been visited

times since 08/03/2006

Brief Tributes to
Sir Brian

Tribute placed by
Zaylin Thomas
on 23/06/2007:
I'm doing a project on you and you are a great man who changed so many lives for the better. RIP

Tribute placed by
Lee Drummond
on 22/07/2006:
Thank you from ALL the parents of heart children. A great loss to all. RIP

Tribute placed by
Jacqui Anderson-Jane
on 23/03/2006:
A privilege to have worked with you Sir Brian.God Bless you

Tribute placed by
Donna Jujnovich
on 16/03/2006:
Heart Children Auckland mourn the passing of an amazing man - A great tree has fallen

Tribute placed by
Tania Kraakman
on 11/03/2006:
Heart Children NZ Bay of Plenty would like to offer their condolences to Sir Brian's Family

Click here to place your brief tribute to Sir Brian