It is with much sadness that we announce that Dr. Mruthyunjayappa (Jaya) Islur passed away peacefully at home in Scarborough on January 26, 2024, at the age of 88. He leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years, Purnima. Jaya was proud to have two sons: Praveen and Avinash and two wonderful daughter in-laws: Ann and Amy. Jaya was delighted to be called “Ajja” by his four grandchildren: Kieran, Kylie, Aleks, and Nina.
Jaya was born on May 2, 1935 in Shiralakoppa, Karnataka, India. His journey to having a distinguished and dedicated career as a pediatrician began when he earned his medical degree from Mysore Medical College in 1961. To pursue his love of medicine, he courageously departed India to begin his residency in pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. Soon after in the summer of 1965, he joined The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON, where he completed his residency and an Infectious Diseases Fellowship. A staff position in Infectious Diseases soon followed. The experience and mentorship during this decade shaped his professional career. He started a private practice in the Pape Village area of Toronto, which he maintained for nearly 40 years. There, he took care of multiple generations of pediatric patients.
He continued on as an active staff member at The Hospital for Sick Children until his retirement at the hospital in 2000, but continued to attend rounds and meetings to maintain his knowledge and see his long-time friends and colleagues. His greatest passion was teaching clinical medicine. As an Assistant Professor at The University of Toronto, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching medical students during their clinical clerkship rotations in his office, imparting his passion for pediatric medicine onto each of them. He was never more proud then when one of his students decided to pursue a career in pediatrics.
He was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Canadian Paediatric Society, and Canadian Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage. He was proud of having published several articles in medical journals and spoke about how he wished to publish more when he retired. His love for medicine and pediatrics led him to volunteer examing children in his home town while on his personal vacations in India.
Aside from medicine, Jaya loved keeping his friends and family taken care of in anyway he knew how and was the first to lend a hand whenever one needed it. Friends would comment that he never relaxed until he made sure everyone was comfortable. In addition, he could not wait to share his other passion, Alphonso mangoes. Anyone who was offered a box of mangoes knew they held a special place in his heart. He was a believer in his Lingayat faith and a member of the Veerashaiva Samaja of North America.
Jaya will always be remembered for his honesty, warm smile, love for his family, and the compassionate care he provided to his patients. Even after retirement, his former patients would stop him in the street or while he shopped to express their gratitude for the great care they received from him.
His family is grateful and appreciative to all the physicians, nurses, home care aides, and neighbours who attended to and supported Jaya during the last few months of his life.
In keeping with Jaya’s wishes, a memorial service will not be held.
Condolences can be made through Highland Hills Funeral Home & Cemetery: https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/highlandhills/obituaries.html
If you wish, donations can be made to the SickKids Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.