YORSH, Ralph Irving
April 15, 1921 - May 16, 2020
Dr Ralph Irving Yorsh passed away on the afternoon of Saturday May 16, 2020 in the home that he designed and built with his beloved wife Rose, who predeceased him in December 2016. He went peacefully and with dignity at the age of 99 years, 1 month and 1 day.
Ralph was born in Winnipeg,MB to Leon Yorsh and Ellen Berg. His birth mother passed tragically when he was 3. For 3 years, he was raised by his maternal grandmother and aunts. When Ralph was 6, Leon married Dora Shulman, who became a loving and extremely devoted mother. Ralph was a smart and curious boy, very studious and wanting to know and understand how everything worked from finances at his fathers grocery store (cash was king), to the inner workings of assorted machinery in his small rural Saskatchewan town. Ralph and his parents lived in both Ituna and Wynyard, SK.
He attended undergraduate school at the University of Saskatchewan, and Dental School at the University of Toronto. He practiced dentistry upon graduation with the Canadian Dental Corp and reached the position of Captain in the Canadian Army while stationed in Yarmouth, NS.
Ralph decided to move West to Vancouver and helped his folks move out as well. He then met the love of his life Rose Newman and they married in 1953. They were perfectly suited having similar interests in travel, theater, art, music and good healthy food!
The Yorsh's added Libby, Michelle and Jock to their family from 1955-1960. He was a devoted father, always trying to improve and support their skills, education and interests.
He was a ground breaker in his General Dentistry practice, training all his patients in Clinical Hypnosis. He lectured to the Dentistry students at UBC, and as communication was so important to him - he founded the Walter Gage Toastmasters Club on campus. Ralph joined the Cloverleaf Toastmasters and was a valued member and mentor earning the respect of many who attended the Wednesday noon meetings. It was known that his goal was to recruit one member per day!! Ralph passed away being the oldest Toastmaster in the world. His numerous passions included playing the Hammond Organ, visiting approximately 1100 factories and mines, ballroom dancing, whistling, Gershwin, lectures, learning and travelling - almost 100 countries in total. Ralph was extremely proud of his accomplishments in life and was a very content man. Ralph leaves behind children LIbby (Stephen) Ordel, Michelle (Michael) Yorsh Medrano and Jock Yorsh, and grandchildren Eryne, Hayden and Corbin Ordel, and Dorienn and Marisha Medrano.
Grateful thanks go to his amazing caregivers Froy and Carmen, Dr David Thomson, and Rabbis Infeld and Stein and Debbie Fenson of the Beth Israel, and the Reverend Marciano.
Ralph would say that his middle name was 'CURIOSITY', and curious he was. In his own words "OVER AND OUT".
Donations may be made in his name to the Beth Israel Synagogue.
A celebration of Ralph's life will be held sometime in the future.