OBITUARIES
years, a strong supporter of the Living with Hope research
program to help palliative care patients die with dignity in
peace and comfort. He was passionate about social justice
and equality, and organized teaching and exchange opportunities in Somalia, China and India. Recognized as a leader
in his field, he was President of the Society of Gynecologic
Oncologists of Canada (1986-1987), the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada (1988), and the
Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (1990).
David is survived by his wife Linda and their four children
David Michael Popkin, Erica Hoffart, Amanda Popkin, Peter
(Trish) Popkin and four (soon to be five) grandchildren. David
is also survived by his brothers John (Judy) Popkin and James
(Dawn) Popkin, sister-in-law Lorna Marvin, and their families.
Dr. Metro Surkan
Dr. Metro Surkan passed away on Friday,
February 14, 2014 at the Victoria Hospital.
Metro was born on the farm north of Theodore, SK on October 25, 1920. He was the
ninth of 10 children to Michael and Polly
(nee Torsky) Surkan.
Metro started school at the age of seven; he could only speak
Ukrainian, but he quickly learned English in the classroom.
He was a very quick learner and, because he was in a multigrade classroom, he was accelerated and graduated public
school in Buchanan, SK by the age of 16. Metro saved money
for one year before starting university. After his first year, he
won an arts and science scholarship but could not afford to
continue his studies. Thus, he went to Normal School and
received his teaching certificate. He’d barely started his new
job when his father had a stroke; he went home to farm with
his mother for seven years. In 1945, the family farm was sold
and Metro had the opportunity to follow his dream of going back to the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) in premedicine. Metro received his BA in 1948 and graduated
from medicine in 1950 from the University of Alberta, since
the U of S did not have a full degree program at that time.
He was awarded a gold medal in surgery upon graduation.
Metro then interned at City Hospital in Saskatoon, where he
met his wife, Helen. They were married on June 16, 1951 and
settled in Prince Albert working at what would become the
Associate Medical Clinic. He was the President of the medical
staff at both hospitals, and he was the President of the PA District Medical Society. In 1978, Metro was granted a fellowship
in family medicine.
Metro always encouraged people to do their best, and his patients were given the highest quality of care during his 50-year
career as a physician. Metro was extremely proud of his five
sons’ accomplishments: four became medical doctors, and the
youngest became a veterinarian. Metro is survived by his five
sons Michael (Virginia), David (Jean), Gordon (Sue), John (Vivian), and Peter (Ida); his 12 grandchildren Vilija (Tyler), Aaron
(Ashley), Sean (Jeannine), Laura, Jennifer (Scott), Robert, Daniel, Neil, Nathan,