With great sadness, we announce that Ralph has died peacefully in Victoria, B.C. on August 20, 2023.
Predeceased by his wife, Lois, and his son, Peter; Ralph is survived by his sister Ruth Geoghan, his daughter, Cydney (Roger) Higgins, his son, Greg (Victoria) Smith as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will also be missed by many other relatives and friends.
Ralph was born in London, Ontario where he graduated Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in 1949. He married Lois that spring and the pair began an exciting life which took them to Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cleveland while Ralph pursued surgical internships in Cardiothoracic surgery. Ralph and Lois moved to Victoria in 1960 with their three small children. They worked together to set up his surgical office and practice which took him up and down the island initially. Ralph was relentless in his advocacy for an Open-Heart Surgical unit at Jubilee Hospital and by 1971 he was successful. Ralph was a key player in the start-up of this service.
After retiring around 1995, he continued an extraordinarily active life with his family. Ralph loved the outdoors and spoke fondly of his childhood memories on his grandfather’s farm in Ontario; he loved hunting, fishing, camping, fly-tying, gardening, photography, sailing, and golf. Ralph and Lois cruised extensively in the Gulf Islands and developed new friends in Palm Desert in their later years. Ralph enjoyed being a docent for many years at the Living Desert in Palm Desert. He loved the home which he and Lois had designed and more recently his beautiful alpine rock garden.
The family would like to thank those who loved and assisted Ralph, especially: Dr. Matthew Vaughan, Director Twila Thomson, the staff at St. Charles Manor, Nurse Lara, Dr. Charles Medhurst, ComForCare Staff, Sean, Maureen, Carlos and our many caring neighbours.
A private Celebration of Life will take place at a date yet to be determined, for immediate family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Carson Loveless
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Charles Taylor Sincere condolences on Dr. Ralph’s passing. I worked with him and his surgical patients in the ICU at RJH back in the day and he was known to be a very adept surgeon.
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Art Goodwin Very sad to hear of your fathers passing. I had a very brief friendship with your Dad when I was working with Oak Bay Police (2005-2013). I would stop often just to talk with both Lois and Ralph during my patrols. My reward was a tour of his sailboat and his rock garden! Lois would make coffee for such visits. We shared our stories of sailing and our mutual love for Landrovers. He was a great man and set the bar very high!
Art Goodwin
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Sheila Hart May he rest in peace. Condolences to all the family especially Cydney and Roger. Hopefully you find peace in the coming days. Sheila and Bill
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Lois Morrison So sorry to hear about your dad’s passing! He sounds like an amazing man! Thinking of you and sending sincere condolences,
Lois and Bruce Morrison
Condolences to his family