THEODORE MITCHELL BUSHEIKIN

June 12, 1934 – August 11, 2025 Ted did not go "gentle into that good night," as Dylan Thomas wrote. He didn't rage, but he resented the "dying of the light." Still, Ted died peacefully and painlessly, after a short illness but a long bout with dementia. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Ford; his daughters, Kerry Busheikin of Victoria and Laura Busheikin (Tomas Hajke) of Denman Island, and their mother, Sharron Milstein of Hornby Island, all in BC. He leaves his grandchildren, Kosma Busheikin and Jakub Hajek, both of Vancouver. Ted was born in Calgary, the third son of Abe and Eva Busheikin (nee Shumiatcher). He grew up surrounded by "cousins by the dozens," especially his closest cousin and neighbour, Larry Shapiro, who was also the youngest in his family. Their grandparents immigrated to Canada from Belarus with 11 children who spread across Canada and the United States in the ensuing 100 years. Ted was predeceased by his parents, and his brothers, Joe and Judah; but leaves to mourn Joe's children, David Busheikin (Jackie) of Calgary, Judah Busheikin of Edmonton, Aviva (Jeff Cipin) of Toronto, and their children and grandchildren. Ted graduated from the University of Alberta medical school in 1959 after obtaining a BSc in mathematics which might explain his proficiency at contract bridge. He interned at Calgary's General Hospital (from which he later practised for years) and received his specialty training in Vancouver. He did a residency in Cleveland Ohio, for whose sports teams he held a lifelong love. After a two–year residency in England, Ted returned to Calgary and private practice as an obstetrician/gynecologist caring for women and delivering too many babies for him to count. He once remarked he had the experience of delivering the babies of mothers whom he once delivered. Always a believer in a woman's right to choose, when the Canadian government made abortion legal, Ted added that health care to his practice. In 1991, Ted opened the Kensington Clinic which specializes in abortion care. He faced protests and threats both at work and at home, but as his patients and his family will attest, nothing would deter him and his staff from providing a full range of women-centred care. Ted retired in 2005 to spend more time in his most happy place - his second home in the Rockies just outside Canmore. A proficient skier and hiker as a young man, he was an avid sports fan who loved baseball and cheered for the Calgary Stampeders and Calgary Flames and any team playing against Edmonton. Arrangement are in the care of Calgary's Chevra Kadisha. In lieu of any offering, please consider a donation to the Calgary Food Bank.