Ron was the eldest child of Keith and Louie Doig of Colac, where his father was a general practitioner. He was named after two of his father's friends who were killed in France in World War 1. A gifted scholar with wide interests, he attended Colac West State Primary School, Colac High School then Geelong College, his father's old school. In 1939 he was dux of Geelong College and won the exhibitions in Mathematics I, II, III and Physics. He studied Medicine at the University of Melbourne, always in the top level of each year, and took the exhibition in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in his final year. He was resident at Ormond College and proud of that association, as his father had been a distinguished Ormond resident.

After completing his medical degree in 1944 and a resident year at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Ron joined the RAAF. Following initial training he was posted to New Guinea, serving in Madang, Finchhaven, Milne Bay and Port Morseby until 1947. There he met Patricia Gray from Melbourne. In 1948, after their return to Melbourne, they married. Ron joined the Clinical Research Unit at Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, working on gastric problems and biopsy, on which he published several joint papers. He was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1950.

In 1951 Ron, as a Fulbright Scholar, travelled to New York with Pat and their two children, Christopher and Meredith. He continued his gastric studies for two years at the New York Hospital, then moved to St Mary's Hospital, London, as a Nuffield Fellow. In 1954, on returning to Melbourne late, Ron rejoined the Clinical Research Unit studying illness in twins. In 1956 when this work was completed he went into private practice as a Physician. The unexpected death of his wife Pat seven years later left him as a lone parent.

He was medical officer to the Herald and Weekly Times, a consultant with the RAAF, an honorary consultant at the Royal Women's Hospital and at the Royal Children's Hospital, as a paediatric psychiatrist, as well as attending his private patients. He was noted for his compassion and kindness. He even studied Italian to help communicate with patients! In 1961 Ron was appointed as an honorary consultant physician to Preston and Northcote Community Hospital and continued there for more than 25 years. He worked at the McLeod Repatriation Hospital until he retired from his private practice in 1991.

In 1965 Ron married Carmel Jowett, beginning a union which brought them great happiness for the next forty years. They have three children: Louise, Andrew and Heather. When he finally retired Ron had time for his other great interest, mathematics, for which he had prepared over the last few years by completing a degree (BSc) in mathematics at the University of Melbourne. He also became a part time tutor there. He was particularly interested in the history of mathematics and gave courses on this and other aspects of mathematics at the University of the Third Age. He also returned to study Latin at the CAE.

In 1990 he became a highly valued volunteer `copyholder' with the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, now Vision Australia, working closely with a staff member in translating textbooks into Braille. Ron was an active member of Neighbourhood Watch and continued to observe nature, especially spiders and birds. He and Carmel loved music and were delighted to be able to go to Adelaide twice for complete performances of Wagner's Ring Cycle.

Ron was a gentle, considerate and intelligent man who contributed to our community and had a good rapport with other people. He is survived by his wife, two sons, three daughters, five grandchildren, and many other family members, all of whom will miss him greatly.