DR. ALEXANDER RUDNICK

DR. ALEXANDER RUDNICK Born in Berlin, Germany on September 18, 1928. Son to Pauline, who sewed together fur pelts to make enough money to send her Bubby to medical school. Raised in England, Ireland and Belgium. Hid under the staircase of the family's rowhouse in Hampstead Heath when a bomb landed in the backyard during the Blitz. Educated at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. Graduated a doctor in 1950 at the age of 21. Rugby and (European) football player. Fullback in both. Legendary tackler. Said one opponent after a collision: 'It felt like I'd been hit by a bloody bus.' Brother to Sylvia, 5 years his senior. When asked how she felt about her brother, she replied 'mahvelous dahling, simply mahvelous.' Diagnosed living cases of smallpox and gummatous syphilis. Immigrated to Canada in 1954. Delivered thousands of babies in hospitals in Alberta, Quebec and throughout Ontario. French, German and Spanish speaker. Bridge player - the betting kind. Played hands all over the world including once with Omar Sharif. Classical music lover. Theme song was Beethoven's 'Ode To Joy.' A close second (and the only non-classical song tolerated) - Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots Are Made For Walking.' Golfer. Known to throw clubs on occasion. Toronto Blue Jays fan. Known to disavow the team at various points in the relationship. Uncle to Lexy Sola Claret, great-uncle to Pauline. Husband to Maria, 26 years his junior. Son-in-law to Johanna. Divorced, but both women sat waiting for news at every surgery, exchanged gifts at every birthday and called each other family always. Father to Natasha. Raised her to write and ask questions and spell the word victualer. Pushed her to follow her dreams, no matter how far away they took her. Also stubborn. (See Alex.) Father to Alexis (Lexy, Bubby.) Raised him to go all in. Passed on his love of golf, cigars and all creatures great and small. Instructed on identifying which tide, when taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. (See also best friend.) Father-in-law to Caity. Adopted her as a daughter and saw his son's happiness in her eyes. Grandfather to Ella. Held on to see her become a little person who lit up when she saw Grandpa and couldn't wobble over fast enough to be cradled in his arms and lay her head on his chest. For 87 years, he lived on his own terms. In the early morning hours of March 3, 2016, he passed away peacefully. A force to be reckoned with, a lover of elegant things, a gentle-hearted soul. From his favourite thinker Kahlil Gibran: 'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.' Daddy - We are so fiercely proud to be your children, appreciating every day's beauty through the eyes with which you taught us to see. We love you always and forever, Lexy and Tasha