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Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel

2401 Steeles Avenue West

Toronto, Ontario

Douglas WILANSKY Obituary

DOUGLAS WILANSKY It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Dr. Douglas Leo Wilansky on January 20, 2020, loving husband of Ruth (Schelew) Wilansky, father of Susan Wilansky Markowitz and Michael Markowitz, Naftali and Yaffa Wilansky and grandfather of Annie Markowitz, Jonah and Haley Markowitz, and Matthew and Meghan Markowitz. Douglas is remembered as a scholar, a physician and scientist with a passion for life and learning. Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, son of Naftali Hertz and Chaya Leah Wilansky, he was the fifth child whose brothers were 25 years older than him. He attended Yeshiva University in New York at the age of 17 and finished his subspecialty medical training at a very young age. He practiced and did research in Endocrinology and Metabolism for over 20 years and then re-trained in Nuclear Medicine. In 1970 he and the family moved to Toronto when he became the founding chief of Medicine and Nuclear Medicine at Etobicoke General Hospital leading a very successful lab for over another 30 years. In 2010, the lab was re-named in his honor to the Dr. Douglas Wilansky Nuclear Medicine Service. He was the founding Chair of the education committee of the Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Synagogue in Montreal. He served as the Vice Chair of the Canadian Friends of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and helped formulate the early curriculum for this pluralistic and leadership centre of Jewish thought and education both in Israel and around the world. He will be greatly missed by his family, loyal friends and colleagues. Deep gratitude to his caregivers Ramon, Dom, Mikko and Florie. At Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel, 2401 Steeles Avenue W., (three lights west of Dufferin) for service on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Beth Tzedec Memorial Park. Shiva at 400 Walmer Road, East Tower, Suite #329, Toronto. If desired, send donations to Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (416-946-6560) or the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care (416-586-4800 ext 3936).
Published by The Globe and Mail from Jan. 22 to Jan. 26, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Douglas WILANSKY

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7 Entries

Anita Gittens

January 27, 2020

Dear Ruth,

I am extremely sad to hear the news of Dr. Wilansky's passing. I extend my deepest sympathy to you, Susan, Naftali and all of the family.
Dr. Wilansky hired me for my first job in Nuclear Medicine at Etobicoke General Hospital, years later he supported me in my role as Manager, Nuclear Medicine and then as Technical Administrator, Diagnostic Imaging.
He was a mentor, colleague and a brilliant physician. I'm honoured and privileged to have known him.
May the many memories help to comfort you and your family during this time and may he rest in peace.

Anita Gittens

Arnold Kravetz

January 26, 2020

I was saddened to hear the news of Doug's passing. He was a "mover and shaker" at Etobicoke General where he helped to organize the hospital's Clinic Days and was instrumental in establishing the Nuclear Medicine department. I enjoyed practicing my limited Yiddish with him, and I still have and use all the Passover songs and information sheets that he and Ruth gave me. I will certainly miss our small visits. Sincere condolences to Ruth and the family.

Isaac David Mercer

January 23, 2020

To Ruth and family, May we offer our sincere condolences on Douglas passing. I have known Douglas and Ruth for over a quarter century, he was a friend and mentor to me, and have many find memories of his summer visits to newfoundland. My later wife (June)and I were privileged to entertain them at our home in Holyrood, and we enjoyed his shiurs in our little Shul. He will be sadly remembered. May his death be a blessing to us all, and may the Family be remembered among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Dr. Isaac David Mercer.

Robert Yufe

January 22, 2020

My deepest condolences to Ruth, Susan and Harry on their great loss. Doug was a gifted doctor, scientist and researcher. He was Chief of Medicine at the Etobicke General Hospital when he hired me to work in his department as a junior neurologist having moved from Montreal to start my career. I recall an incident in my early years when I asked Doug to look at a patient admitted to the hospital over the weekend. Doug was always in the hospital on Sunday's. Doug, I said, she is weak in her legs and I a m not sure why. Doug entered the room, glanced at the patient and without speaking to her or examining her, he stated she is hyperthyroid The diagnosis was confirmed the next day with lab tests.

Doug with be remembered as a brilliant clinician scientist by his colleagues and missed by all who knew him. It was my privilege to know him and work with him

Dr Robert Yufe

Patricia Farnsworth

January 22, 2020

I was very saddened to hear this news. I enjoyed working with Dr Wilansky as his nurse in nuclear medicine for 10 years. He and Ruth were very welcoming with me. Condolences to Ruth and the family
Patricia Farnsworth

Umesh Gandhi

January 22, 2020

I am very saddened to hear this news. My deepest condolences to his wife Ruth and his entire family. Dr Wilansky was my mentor, my colleague and a father figure to me in the 30 years I have known him in the Nuclear Medicine Dept at Etobicoke General Hospital. I am very grateful to him for hiring me fresh out of school to work for him back in 1989 and then to promoting me to oversee the technical aspect of the Dept in 1994 as the Charge Technologist. He will be sorely missed and my heart is a little heavier after hearing this news.

January 22, 2020

Sending our condolences and love to everyone in the family. Joey Shulman (Sylvia Wilansky's second son). I believe we're mishpocha.

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Memorial Events
for Douglas WILANSKY

Jan

23

Service

11:00 a.m.

Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel

2401 Steeles Avenue W., (three lights west of Dufferin), Toronto, ON

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Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel

2401 Steeles Avenue West, Toronto, ON M3J 2P1