Almost one thousand people showed up to say goodbye to an internationally-known Canadian eye doctor and philanthropist.

Dr. Garth Taylor, 61, was buried Saturday in Cornwall, Ont., but his good deeds reached around the world.

The ophthalmologist worked with Orbis International, going on missions to save the sight of the blind and poor who otherwise couldn't afford medical care.

He worked out of a converted DC-10 aircraft, which had an operating room built into it.

Born in Jamaica, emigrating to Canada at age 26, he died a week ago of heart failure. The land of his birth recently honoured him with the Order of Jamaica.

Dignitaries from Saudi Arabia and Jamaica attended the funeral.

"He transcended cultures, language groups," Dr. Jean-Paul DeYoung, a colleague of Taylor's, told CTV Ottawa. "He showed what the human heart can do when it's dedicated to the cause of serving mankind."

Besides being vice-president of medical staff at Cornwall General Hospital, he also taught medicine at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

Along with dignitaries, patients and staff also paid their respects.

"He was just a very special man," nurse Wilma Todd said through her tears.

"I was legally blind. I got along fine with glasses and contact lenses," said Judy Kyte, a former patient of Taylor's.

"But he made me take that step (laser surgery) when I probably wouldn't have, and it made a huge difference to me."

Said DeYoung: "Garth was the epitome of what we all aspire to be as physicians."

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Carole Ann Guay