Biography:

Dr. Gary “Wayne” Asher was born at the Public General Hospital in Chatham, Ontario on the 23rd of August, 1940.  Dr. Asher was the 2nd of 6 children born to Hiram “Harry” Bruce Asher and Stella Marie (Brown) Asher.  Dr. Asher attended McKeough Public School from Kindergarten to Grade 5 and then Winston Churchill Public School (in Chatham) from grade 6 to grade 8.

Dr. Asher attended Chatham Collegiate Institute and after graduating from Grade 13 he attended the University of Western Ontario.  Dr. Asher received his B.A. in English, then he was accepted into Medical School at the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1967.  Dr. Asher interned at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London in 1968.  Dr. Asher completed his residency in 1973 and graduated FRCS(C), a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In 1973, Dr. Asher set up his medical office in Chatham in Dr. William Reid’s former office located at Third and King Street.  In 1978 Dr. Asher moved his medical practice to 857 Grand Ave in Chatham.

While he was studying medicine in London, Dr. Asher met his future wife, Joanne Patricia D’Amico.  Mrs. Asher was a student nurse at St. Josephs Hospital when they met.  Mrs. Asher graduated in 1967 and she worked in London until 1973.  They were married in 1967 in Welland, Ontario and they have 4 children; Kimberley, Kevin, Aaron and Sarah.

Dr. Asher served as the President of the Kent County Medical Society in 1981.  He was the Chief of Ob/Gyn from 1997 to 2003 at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.  Dr. Asher has also chaired various hospital committee’s over the years.

Dr. Asher retired in 2010 and he worked part-time on an “on-call” basis for a number of years at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.  With a large practice, Dr. Asher didn’t have much spare time over the years, but he always enjoyed getting out for a game of golf.  In his retirement he enjoyed spending time with Joanne and their children and grandchildren.

Dr. Asher died at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on the 7th of January, 2023.

*Dr. William Reid also appears on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.