Obituary of Torrence Philip Bruce Payne

Torrence Philip Bruce Payne, M.D., C. M. Ph.D. Dr. Torrence P.B. Payne died at his home in Fairfax, Va., on November 23, 2012, after a brief illness. Dr. Payne was born on September 4, 1919, in Barbados, West Indies. One of eight children, he grew up on the Caribbean island and attended Harrison College, often referred to as the as the Eaton of Barbados. In 1939, he was awarded the Barbados Scholarship in Classics, the island's highest academic honor. Dr. Payne was set to travel for study at Oxford in the United Kingdom, but the outset of World War II forced a change of plans. Instead, he entered McGill University, in Montreal, Canada, where he pursued undergraduate and graduate studies. While there, he earned multiple degrees and graduated with the highest honors, including numerous awards for scholastic excellence. Dr. Payne met his wife, Vasilia Marguerite Stavrides, in Montreal, and the couple married on September 29, 1946. Dr. Payne was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical society, a named fellow and diplomate in numerous medical associations, as well as a frequent contributing author to various medical journals during his 37-year career. He also served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps during World War II. Upon the completion of five years of residency in pathology at McGill and the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., Dr. Payne practiced his medical specialty in Orange and Dutchess Counties, N.Y. He served concurrently as the director of laboratories for St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, N.Y., and Highland Hospital and Craig House in Beacon, N.Y. Dr. Payne also functioned as the forensic pathologist for Orange County. He retired from medicine in 1987, and moved to Marco Island, Fla., where he began a new career as a successful real estate agent. In 2009, after 22 years in Florida, Dr. Payne and his wife moved to Northern Virginia to be closer to family. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in 2012. Throughout his long life, Dr. Payne was a student of world literature and loved poetry. He knew Shakespeare well, particularly the sonnets—many of which he memorized. He was equally well versed in the classics. As a student, he learned to read, write, and speak Greek. His children will always remember his love of language, which was displayed by his recitations at family gatherings. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children: Michael Payne of Gainesville, Fla., Barbara Payne of Paris, Va. and Maria Payne Rasmussen of Richmond, Va.; five grandchildren: Christina of Washington, D.C., Michelle of Crestview, Fla., Eleni of Washington, D.C., and Elizabeth and Alexandra of Richmond, Va.; and a great-granddaughter, Kathryn of Crestview, Fla.