Dr. Victor Peter Zaitzeff

It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. Victor Zaitzeff announce his death on June 16th, 2007, following a struggle with lung cancer. So many of you knew him and will mourn his passing. Victor was first your doctor and then became your friend. Victor delivered many of you and he helped many throughout his medical career at the City's hospitals and the Port Arthur Clinic. Perhaps you were a colleague - physician, nurse or staff, and you may have worked with him, or you were a patient - he touched so many lives in so many positive healing ways. You will remember his kindness, his soft spoken polite manner, his housecalls to your homes, his daily visits to your hospital rooms and how he always returned phone calls every single day or night, even after he had left the clinic to go home. Victor made us all feel safe, protected and cared for. Victor excelled at languages and was able to look after patients speaking Italian, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Chinese. Victor was our Dr. Zaitzeff. Victor Peter Zaitzeff was born in Khaborovsk, Russia on August 1st, 1920. Victor was the only child of Peter John Zaitzeff (Russian) and Maria (Timosh) Zaitzeff (Ukrainian). The family lived in Russia and immigrated to China in the early days of the Russian Communist Revolution. The family became merchants in China and eventually owned a leather goods factory, apartments and a coal yard. Victor completed his early education in China. Victor began his medical studies at the University of Hong Kong in 1939, until the occupation of China by the Japanese in 1942, during the 2nd World War. Victor remained in Hong Kong during the occupation for approximately one year and then transferred his medical studies to Aurora University in Shanghai. This was a Jesuit Fathers' French spoken and written University, where Victor earned his Doctor of Medicine in the French language receiving his Degree in 1947. While attending university Victor met and married his wife Ann Kobetsky on August 25th, 1947. Following his graduation, Dr. Zaitzeff became the Medical Officer to the United Nations for Shanghai and surrounding regions. Dr. Zaitzeff then opened and carried on a general practice of medicine in Tsing Tao, China from 1948 until 1951. Victor's wife Ann, was a constant source of love, devotion, strength, support and huge optimism throughout their marriage. Ann was the Manager and owner of seamstress shops with her sister in Shanghai and Tsing Tao and supported Victor in the last years of his medical education, as well as the early days of his medical practice. Victor was pleased to accept payment for his medical services in whatever form his patients were able to pay, including chickens and eggs and if they were not able to pay, Victor always looked after them. Their only child, Sandy Alexander was born in Tsing Tao, China in 1949. China, during this time, following the Second World War, was in a state of huge turmoil and revolution. The communists seized the family's properties and assets. Victor & Ann decided to leave communist China for new opportunities in Canada and were allowed to leave with two Chinese rugs and $25.00 each. On November 10th, 1951, the family immigrated to Canada, where they first resided in Vancouver with Victor's cousin Anatol & Eugenie Zaitzeff. Victor then found employment at the sanitorium in Le Pas, Manitoba. Victor applied to requalify for his Medical Licence in Canada and served his internship at St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1952. Victor wrote and passed the Dominion Council Exams in 1953 qualifying him to practice medicine in Canada. In 1954, Dr. Zaitzeff moved his family to Thunder Bay and joined the Port Arthur Clinic, where he practiced medicine for 49 years having a general practice. Dr. Zaitzeff looked after many multi-generation families having delivered babies in the early 1950's, who then brought him their children and grandchildren to look after as well. Dr. Zaitzeff looked after these families until his retirement in 2003. Victor truly felt that his patients were his friends and therefore, when given the choice of part-time practice, Victor could not choose between his patients and felt that he had to retire fully. Dr. Zaitzeff was the Chief of General Practice and Physician to the School of Nurses at the Port Arthur General Hospital from 1960 to approximately 1970. Dr, Zaitzeff was the Vice President of Medical Staff at St. Joseph's Hospital in the early 1970's. Dr. Zaitzeff received the Glenn Sawyer Award in 1990 for recognition of service to the profession and community from the Ontario Medical Association. Following Victor's retirement from medicine in 2003, his wife Ann was in poor health and Victor took over many of the household duties. Victor loved to shop (in between visits to former patients in the hospitals and nursing homes) and he embraced cooking with determination and passion. Victor enjoyed reading, playing bridge with his wife and friends and debating politics with his son Sandy Sr. Victor derived special pleasure and spent many hours trying out recipes and cooking with his grandson Sandy Jr. There was laughter, love, huge support and advice and many excellent meals. Victor loved his cottage and sauna at Amethyst Harbour, where he spent many memorable summers. Victor is survived by his wife Ann, his son Sandy (Sr. ) and his grandson Sandy (Jr. ) all of whom reside in Thunder Bay. His son Sandy Sr. has been a lawyer in Thunder Bay for 32 years and his grandson is commencing a new career as a general insurance broker. The family wishes to thank the physicians, nurses and staff of the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospice and the Port Arthur Health Centre (formerly Port Arthur Clinic), for the excellent care and kindness extended to Dr. Zaitzeff. A private Memorial Church Service will take place for family members on Friday morning June 22nd, 2007. The family wishes to extend an invitation to Dr. Zaitzeff's friends and former patients to share in a Celebration of Dr. Zaitzeff's Life, from 5:30 pm - 8:00 p.m. with speakers commencing at 6:15 pm at the Valhalla Inn on Friday, June 22nd, 2007. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society."