It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Dr. Surendra (Sam) Purshotam Ruparelia.
He passed away gently in the loving arms of his daughter at Ottawa General Hospital on May 12, 2023. He leaves behind hearts that are broken but fiercely proud of the generous and courageous man he was and the many lives he touched and improved in his (still too short) 83 years on this earth.
His son, Rupel (Marcy), and daughter, Rakhi, miss him dearly already, but marvel at his tenacity in fighting multiple medical battles until the very end. Fortunately, his grandchildren, Maya, Jaden (Rupel), and Zianna (Rakhi), have inherited his sense of determination. Indeed, Zianna, with whom her "nana" lived for the past two years in Ottawa, has already started to adopt her nana's mannerisms and expressions at the tender age of three years old and has committed to following his career path (medical specialty to be determined), to Nana's utter delight. He always wanted another doctor in the family!
Also mourning this extraordinary loss is his former wife, Hira Ruparelia, who was at his bedside at the end, and Surendra's three surviving brothers and three surviving sisters. He was predeceased by his parents, Purshotam Kanji and Shanta Ruparelia, as well as the many brothers and sisters in Canada and England who also left us too soon. One of the greatest loves of Surendra's life was his work, although he never considered medicine work. Dr. Ruparelia adored and cared for his patients like they were friends and family, and he practiced with an old-school work ethic that one rarely finds in family medicine anymore.
He also contributed to his community through his work at the (then) Oshawa General Hospital, including as President of the Medical Staff Association from 1985-1986. He retired with a heavy heart, but no regrets, in 2014 after almost 40 years of practice in Oshawa. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Lakeridge Health Foundation or any medical charity of your choice would be appreciated.