A DOCTOR who had a "reputation as a brilliant surgeon and one of the pioneering figures of cardiac surgery in Belfast" has died at his home following a short illness.
Dr Hugh O'Kane, who was 84 and from Malone Park in south Belfast, died at home on Monday.
The father-of-four, who attended school at St Patrick’s College in Armagh, studied Physiology and Medicine at Queen's University in Belfast and also graduated with a Master of Surgery from QUB in 1969.
He began his working career at the Mater Hospital in Belfast and went to become a senior house officer at the City Hospital.
He then became a senior surgical registrar before becoming a surgical research fellow at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota in the US from 1967 until 1969.
He became a resident in cardiothoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic before becoming assistant professor of surgery at Washington University/Jewish Hospital in St Louis.
In 1973 he returned to Belfast where he took up the role of consultant cardiac surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
While studying at Queen's, Dr O'Kane was also well known as a talented GAA footballer.
Previously, while a student at St Patrick's College in Armagh, Mr O'Kane - who was the pioneer of bypass cardiac surgery in Ireland- had been a member of the MacRory winning cup team in 1953.
Later, he featured in seven Sigerson campaigns for Queen's GAA, the first in 1954 and was captain of the first QUB team to win the Sigerson Cup in 1958/59.
As a young man he played his club football with Éire Óg Derriaghy and had a brief inter-county spell with Antrim.
In recent years Dr O'Kane was patron of the Sean O'Neill GAA Academy Fund since its foundation in 2004.
Posting on Facebook, Queen's GAA said Dr O'Kane would be remembered as "an accomplished player, a natural team leader and a pioneering cardiac surgeon".
John Devaney, chairman of QUB GAA Past Members Union, described Mr O'Kane as a "gifted sportsman and surgeon, whose leading role in the iconic Queen's team of 1958/59 will ensure that he will always have special place in the story of the Queen's club and the university”.
"His former playing colleagues regarded him as an exceptional leader on the field of play, and a footballer who demonstrated the highest levels of sportsmanship," he said.
"And yet we know that his sporting prowess only tells part of his story, as Hugh had a reputation as a brilliant surgeon and one of the pioneering figures of cardiac surgery in Belfast.
"But above all, he was a gentleman; and his warmth, wit and wisdom will be fondly remembered and missed by all who knew him".
Requiem Mass was celebrated yesterday at St Brigid’s Church, Derryvolgie Avenue in Belfast with burial afterwards in Agherton Cemetery in Portstewart.
