Karen Elaine Magee Pape

Karen passed away peacefully at home on Saturday June 2, 2018. Daughter of the late Brian and Elaine Magee. Mother of Sarah, Aaron (Lisa Richardson), and loving Nana to Daniela and Jack. Much-loved sister of Brian (Susan) Magee, Ivan Magee and the late Judy (Normand) Baril. Beloved former spouse of Paul Pape. Proud aunt of Brendan, Diana & Charles. Karen was a pillar of strength for her family with an enormous heart.

A graduate of Havergal College, McGill University and the University of Toronto Medical School, Karen was a neonatologist at The Hospital for Sick Children, the Director of the Neonatal Follow - Up Program and the President of the Medical Staff. Widely published, she was instrumental in the development of neonatal ultra sound brain scanning now used in intensive care units around the world. After leaving HSC, Karen became a pioneer in the field of neuroplasticity in children with early brain and nerve injuries. She was a tireless advocate for a revolution in the treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Karen captured this work in her recently published book, The Boy Who Could Run But Not Walk.

She was a rebel with a cause who took no prisoners nor suffered fools. Karen took the road less travelled by and that made all the difference to thousands of her patients and their families. To the end, Karen was still thinking of ways to advocate for improving the treatments available for children with early brain and nerve injuries. She did not go gentle into that good night. In the weeks before her death, Karen endowed a foundation to provide funds to continue her work in this field.

Her family would like to thank Wing Lam and Pia Stampe for their support.
There will be a celebration of Karen’s life on Tuesday June 12, 2018 at The Rosedale Golf Club from 4 to 7pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to Karen’s foundation.

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Dede and Dick Milone
To all of Karen's Family, please accept our deepest sympathy. We have come to know Karen first through our mutual residence at Lost Tree Village in Florida. It was only after that, as a physician myself, that I came to learn of Karen's exceptional medical talent, expertise, and truly world-wide renown in the care of pediatric neurological conditions, particularly CP. When I informed a mutual colleague about her death, someone who had worked closely with her in the field of CP, he commented, "Karen was a wonderful colleague who saw beyond the diagnosis to the child and the family. Her understanding of conditions such as CP were years ahead of the pace of the field". He went on to add, touchingly, "she may have a neck ache in heaven with the number of jewels in her crown". How well said, and how true. It can also be said of Karen, and it is reflected in a number of the entries here, she was so "down to earth", and not at all taken with her own importance as a physician, researcher, educator, writer, innovator, and so many other talents. Few people leave such an indelible mark in this world, and please know how much, and how sincerely she will be missed my by so many of us.
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