VALUED VISITORS : WELCOME
Dedication
My Dear and only brother Rick, [ Avi Shalom ], succumbed in November of 2020 after a merciless fight with pancreatic cancer .
Not a day goes by since then that he is not in our family's thoughts and wonderful memories.
I believe this was a lyric from a "Doors" song .
It went something like this " I loved you madly... as you went walking out the door . "
Rick and I took violin lessons together as children , and put those string instruments down after our beloved instructor, a kind,
lovely British gentleman by the name of Cyril Johnson, took his own life with a plastic bag to escape the pain of a brain tumor.
Rick and I then gravitated to the guitar. As teenagers and university students we played classic guitars, caught up in the
protests and folk music of the fifties and sixties. As adults , we played all manner of guitars, especially electrics .
"As two old guys, generally out of step with the new music genres" , we both loved to try to play the rock classics
and many of the songs of groups from the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties.
I would have invited Rick and his family ( many musical members ) to join me and mine in the construction
and fun we expect to have building this website. Rick truly loved these kinds of projects.
He will be forever missed and to quote Rod Stewart
"You're in my heart ... you're in my soul ."
To the left is a short phone video taken at Rick's daughter, Sari's, Edmonton home, with family all around .
He is seen playing his first guitar (which he gave to his first grandson, Jayden ) ...
and Rick is seen in this video playing alongside , - with Jayden providing the keyboard and vocal accompaniements.
If you hear no sound, please click the double note that will appear in the bottom right corner when you pass your mouse over it.
Welcome to our Virtual Bubble .
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Harvey Uretsky (Richard)
May 22, 1946 - November 9, 2020
Dr. H. Richard Uretsky
May 22, 1946 - Nov. 9, 2020
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Harvey Richard Uretsky, on Monday Nov. 9, 2020, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife Pauline, children Jason (Dani), Sari, Aubrey (Lauren), grandchildren Jayden, Aliya, Ethyn, Iyla, Rena, Noah and Blair, siblings Jerry (Elizabeth), Karen Hering (Abe), Trudy Harowitz (Howard), extended family and friends. Due to Covid-19 restrictions a private funeral was held on Nov. 11, 2020.
Rick was born and raised in St. Catharines Ontario, the second of four children to Abe and Sara Uretsky. Rick moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta, where he met and married Pauline in August of 1968. He completed his medical degree in 1970 and specialized to become an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in 1974.
Rick practiced medicine for forty-two years both in Edmonton and Jackson, Tennessee. He served as chief of OB/GYN at the Grey Nuns hospital in Edmonton and Chief of Surgery in Jackson. He focused much of his career on treating pregnant patients with diabetes and established protocols for their highest standard of care. He delivered an estimated fifteen thousand babies over his career. Rick was blessed to be able to work along side his son Aubrey for over six years until he retired in 2016.
Family was everything to Rick. He and Pauline celebrated their 52nd anniversary this past August. Their three children and seven grandchildren were his pride and joy. He had a special bond with each family member individually, and these connections will be cherished by each of us forever.
Kindness, humanity, integrity, generosity, humility, humour, compassion and an ability to make others feel special are just a few of the qualities used to describe Rick in the outpouring of condolences received by the family.
Rick felt it was his duty to give back to both his professional and Jewish community. He served on numerous boards and committees and as an expert witness in many medical cases across the country.
Some of Rick's loves in life included guitar playing, the Yankees, coaching local sports teams from the couch, writing poems, golf, gardening, travel, making his famous crabapple wine jelly, attending film festivals, sharing holiday meals, and spending time with family and friends.
Our loss is profound and Rick will be missed by so many. The family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses at the Cross Cancer Institute and the Misericordia Hospital for their compassionate care. A special thank you to Rabbi Schwarzman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dr. H. Richard Uretsky's name to the Alberta Cancer Foundation by calling 780-643-4400 or online at www.albertacancer.ca (choose Cross Cancer Institute). On the payment page, tribute information section, specify in memory of Dr. H. Richard Uretsky.
Published on November 15, 2020