#75 Spring 2014 Columns Proust questionnaires ,
Proust questionnaire: Richard Goldbloom
Dr. Richard B. Goldbloom’s achievements and honours are legion—and the man himself is almost legendary; he served as physician-in-chief and director of research at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax for several decades and has authored more than 200 publications. He is chancellor emeritus of Dalhousie University and an officer of the Order of Canada—and, as you’ll see from his answers below, he has a wicked sense of humour. His autobiography, A Lucky Life, was recently published by Formac. [Editor’s note: You can read our review of A Lucky Life here.]
What do you consider your best quality?
Listening and observing.
A quality you desire in a partner:
Warmth (of all kinds).
What do you appreciate most about your friends?
Their number and their quality.
Your worst quality:
Where should I begin?
Your favourite occupation:
Pediatrician.
What is your idea of happiness?
The company of family and friends.
If you could be someone else for a day who would it be?
[Pianist] Vladimir Horowitz.
How you want to die:
To be shot in bed at 103 by a jealous husband.
Your idea of misery:
Loneliness.
Favourite colour:
Burgundy.
Favourite bird:
The rosy-breasted pushover.
Your favourite poet(s):
Wordsworth.
Your favourite author(s):
SJ Perelman.
Your real life hero(es):
My late father and the late Dr. Sydney S. Gellis (Boston).
Your favourite fictional hero(es):
Inspector Clouseau.
Your favourite food & drink:
Carré d’agneau and a fine Bordeaux.
What is your greatest fear?
Memory loss.
A natural talent you would like to possess:
Piano virtuosity.
Where you would most like to live?
Positano, Italy.
Your present state of mind:
Tranquil (i.e. mindless).
Favourite or personal motto:
If I had my life to live over, I’d live over a delicatessen.
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