Dr Dennis Aloysius: The Ideal Doctor and Friend

Dennis’s demise was a shock to family and friends, but as he never recovered from the death of his beloved wife, Chrissy, a few years ago, I’m glad for both of them that they are reunited again in Heaven. They were an example of an ideal marriage; soul mates, partners, a model of a lifelong devotion to each other, always together, Chrissy never sat down to eat till she had served Dennis, wherever they were. There was an aura of completeness about them and their mutual satisfaction in their life together. So, it is natural that he was a lost soul, who found it difficult to pick up the threads of life as it was, after her death.

I first met Dennis when he was a medical student and one of my late father’s favourite students, who nicknamed him ‘Dennis the Menace’.

He was the type of old fashioned doctor, rare today, in that he spent time with is patients who had the highest confidence in him. He was a mentor, inspiration and advisor to many

My father regularly entertained each batch of students that he taught, and later when they were interns too, so they were often guests at our home. I recall Dennis relating an interesting anecdote about my father. Dennis had arrived late for the ward rounds at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital and was pulled up by my father who was a stickler for punctuality. Dennis’ rather lame excuse was that he had been out dancing the night before and had got up late. My father promptly got hold of him and made him dance with him down the middle of the ward, much to the amusement of all onlookers. Later on, Dennis chose to be a family practitioner and was the epitome of what a family doctor should be. Guide, confidante, friend to his patients. Chrissy also helped him in this role, by talking to patients, advising them on hygiene, nutrition etc.

while they waited for Denis. He was the type of old fashioned doctor, rare today, in that he spent time with is patients who had the highest confidence in him. He was a mentor, inspiration and advisor to many young doctors and a wonderful friend to everyone who had the privilege of his friendship. An epitome of dependability and kindliness. Through my close friendship with Cyril and Mavis Gardiner, I would meet Denis and Chrissy often at their home too, he was Cyril’s favourite brother and they were on hand at any occasion. Chrissy was the live-wire in organizing Sanjiv’s parties when he was a child. After Cyril’s death, he was a father to Sanjiv and gave Mavis strength and support to cope with her irreparable loss.

Dennis was a driving force and leading light behind the North Colombo Medical College and played an active role in it from its inception. His vast realm of experience in the medical field proved to be a great asset and the students all looked up to him as a guiding light. He helped students to deepen their knowledge and boost their self-confidence. He kept up his knowledge in medicine besides practising it by heading many medical associations of note. Some of these include being President of The College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, and President of the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association.

Dennis chose to be a family practitioner and was the epitome of what a family doctor should be. Guide, confidante, friend to his patients. 

He was a stabilising influence on the younger doctors in these associations, all of them looked up to him with great respect. He was also of immense support to Chrissy when she founded the Doctors Wives Association for wives of General Practitioners which did several projects for the community and the underprivileged through this. He would take part in little comedy acts at these functions where he proved his prowess as an actor, among his other talents. In the years before Chrissy’s death, I met them often at these events to which Chrissy always invited me. They never missed a medical dance and danced the night away happily as a couple.

Farewell, dear Dennis, there aren’t many of your calibre left behind, we shall miss you as we do Chrissy. It was a great benefit to know you both as you were an example in so many ways. My deepest sympathies to his sister Lucy, who loved him dearly and to his children, as he was an exceptionally caring father.

-Ilica Malkanthi Karunaratne