FORTH, Dr. Ronald
October 28, 1930 - July 23, 2025
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Ronald Forth, beloved husband of the late June Forth and devoted father to Brad (wife, Deanna), Craig, and Jenny. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Colton, Zack, Lucy, Jordan, and Sydney. He is also survived by his sister, Suzy (husband, Brian), as well as his nieces and nephews.
Ron was born in Toronto to John and Marjorie during the Great Depression. The eldest of five children, he took on responsibility early and worked a wide assortment of jobs to help support the family. He sold newspapers on the corner of Yonge and Bloor even including the day WWII was declared. He delivered groceries by bike and worked in an asbestos puppet factory - it's a miracle he lived to 94! He met the love of his life, June, at a church dance when they were both 17. After high school, June moved to Winnipeg, and Ron was crushed. They stayed in touch, however, and after nearly two years apart, he left McMaster University, where he had earned a football scholarship, and transferred to the University of Manitoba to be with her.
Ron and June were married in 1953. He completed his degree in Maths and Physics and briefly worked as an actuary at Great-West Life before being recruited into U of M's medical school. After completing medical school, Ron and June moved to Rochester, Minnesota where Ron did his postgraduate studies in Cardiology and joined the medical staff at the Mayo Clinic. In Rochester, they started their family, welcoming their two sons, Brad and Craig. They also made lifelong friendships.
In 1968, the family moved to Victoria, BC, where Ron became the second cardiologist on Vancouver Island and helped establish the Island's first cardiac cath lab. Victoria became the place where he and June welcomed their daughter, Jenny, raised their family and built a full life with meaningful ties to the community.
Ron never stopped learning and challenging himself. He was an adventurer who found great joy in being active and outdoors, often taking the family on trips such as the West Coast Trail, Byron Lakes, hiking through the Rockies and windsurfing at Nitinat Lake. Whistler became his second home, and he continued skiing there well into his 80's, proudly joining a weekly, experts-only ski school and skiing over 65 days a year.
In his final years, Ron stayed active in whatever ways he could. When his eyesight made reading difficult, he turned to Rom-Coms, which he loved because he was a true romantic at heart. Determined to keep moving, he danced to ABBA in his kitchen and walked along the beach daily with his walking poles. He was up at the crack of dawn to check his stocks and the news. At 94, when told he might need to give up his driver's licence, he called it ageist, took driving lessons, and passed his road test. He was a man of intellect, optimism and fierce determination and an inspiration for aging with purpose and spirit.
He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
A Celebration of Ron's Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, on Friday, September 19th at 2:00 pm.
Condolences may be offered to the family at
www.mccallgardens.com
Published by Victoria Times Colonist from Aug. 8 to Aug. 10, 2025.