Dr Jack Eustace, who died on April 6th aged 94, made an outstanding contribution to the development of occupational medicine in Ireland. He was also well-known as a low handicap golfer and enjoyed a lifelong association with Portmarnock Golf Club.
He qualified MB, B.Ch at University College Dublin in 1932, and was subsequently house surgeon at St Vincent's Hospital, then situated at St Stephen's Green. Early in 1933 he became resident medical doctor (RMD) at the Guinness Brewery, St James's Gate, which at the time employed 7,000 workers. For nearly four years he occupied the rooms set aside for the RMD in the old dispensary over the Grand Canal Basin in which he took many an early morning plunge.
Appointed assistant medical officer in 1944, he became increasingly interested in occupational health. By the 1960s most of his time was devoted to dealing with problems connected with first aid, toxic hazards, accident prevention and sickness absence recording.
From 1947 he divided his time as an occupational health consultant between Guinness, Lever Brothers and Esso and also acted as consultant to other companies. He retired from Guinness in 1972.
John Francis Eustace was born on June 17th 1907, one of the three children of Edward Patrick and Sarah Mary (née Kavanagh) Eustace of Rutland (now Parnell) Square, Dublin. His father was in private medical practice and was also attached to the Mater Hospital.
The young Jack Eustace was witness to the events of Easter Week 1916 and, during the War of Independence, got to know Michael Collins who lived in Vaughan's Hotel. Collins, a regular visitor to the Eustace family home, gave his father a dagger and a Webley revolver for personal protection.
Jack Eustace attended Belvedere College where he played rugby and took part in school plays. His interest in drama led him to become a foundation member of the Gate Theatre in 1928. By now a medical student, he found time to act in several productions. On one occasion, on his return home from a late-night rehearsal, his father asked him if he was studying medicine. When he replied in the affirmative, his father remarked, "At least one of us knows."
He was a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade for 16 years from 1933 and rose through the ranks to become assistant commissioner from 1944 to 1949. At one stage, Eamon de Valera expressed strong disapproval of a foreign-based first-aid organisation operating in Ireland. Jack Eustace out-manoeuvred him by reconstituting the body as a separate entity, the St John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland. It was an adroit move which earned the grudging admiration of de Valera.
He was a member of the council of Dublin Zoo for 20 years and served as vice-president in 1969.
In 1947 he founded the Association of Industrial Medical Officers of Ireland, later to become the Irish Society of Occupational Medicine. He served as president on two occasions, in 1960 and 1970. From 1948 to the time of his death he was a member of the International Commission on Occupational Health. He chaired the organising committee for the commission's 21st conference which was held in Dublin in 1984. It was one of the biggest international events of its kind ever held in Ireland. Over 1,700 delegates filled six lecture halls at the RDS where 700 papers were presented over four days. In 1985 he was made an honorary life member of the commission, one of many honours bestowed on him as a result of his contribution to occupational medicine.
In 1976 he was founder of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the first such faculty to be established in Britain or Ireland. He was dean of the faculty from 1976 to 1981.
At UCD he joined the rugby and boat clubs and in 1929 he was a founder member of the college golf club, having been a member of Portmarnock Golf Club from 1925. In 1938 he became a committee member at Portmarnock and was twice club captain, in 1951 and 1970. In 1954 he was honorary secretary and he was made an honorary life member in 1971, becoming vice-president in 1972 and president in 1982. His considerable organisational skills were put to good use in the Dunlop Masters (1959 and 1965) and the Canada Cup (later the World Cup) in 1960.
Portmarnock held a special place in his heart, and he played golf at least three times a week. He was also closely involved with the St James's Gate Golfing Society.
Jack Eustace continued to practice his profession up to the mid-1980s. A noted raconteur and storyteller, he remained active to the end, occupying himself with gardening, woodwork and cookery. He was a fine cabinet maker and many examples of his work can be seen in the Portmarnock club house.
He was predeceased by his wife Marguerite (née Ryan) in 1992; two of his children, Frank and Paula, also predeceased him. He is survived by his sons, Ian and Dermot, and daughter, Maureen.
Dr Jack Eustace: born 1907, died April 2002