Dr. Richard William SHERBANIUK
Dr. Richard W. Sherbaniuk
B.SC. (1948), M.D. (1952), M.Sc. (1956),
FRCPC (retired), FACP (retired)
April 11, 1927 – January 8th, 2024
Dick was born in the town of Vegreville, AB, to Ena (Walchyna) and Dmytro Sherbaniuk. He was followed by his two siblings — Douglas (Joyce) and James (Elizabeth) — now deceased.
He went to school in Vegreville and then entered the University of Alberta in 1944. He had suffered a fractured left femur due to a car accident in 1935, for which amputation was offered as the only alternative due to lack of medical facilities. After successful surgery at the University Hospital, he subsequently decided to enroll in Medicine in order to improve the teaching and practice of medicine in Alberta.
He married Georgina (Dodie) Yule in 1952 and they had five wonderful children: Richard (deceased) (Bonnie Dorish), Nancy (Robert Branom), Maggie (Betsy Kitchen), Robert and Patricia. There are numerous surviving nephews and nieces. Regrettably, Dodie died in 2002, in their 50th year of marriage, and Dick lovingly acknowledged that he wouldn’t have been as successful as he was in his chosen profession without Dodie’s encouragement and invaluable support in raising their five children.
After post-graduate studies in Edmonton, and a residency at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, he returned home to establish a very large and busy medical practice, drawing on the populations of AB, NW BC, Yukon, NWT, and western SK. The hours were very long at the hospital and office, being the lone gastroenterologist, sometimes reaching 80-90 hours per week. This included teaching students, residents, and participating in clinical research.
In the 1960’s, Dick, with his associate Dr. Ronald Wensel, established the Division of Gastroenterology- now grown to a world-class institution and classified as a Center of Excellence. He was grateful to the many peers, students, residents, and fellows with whom he has interacted over the years.
Athletically, his activity was mainly with the game of tennis, which he loved, and which he played regularly into his late eighties.
Otherwise, his spare time was spent with family or reading countless medical journals to keep up with the fantastic expansion of the medical field over the last 50 years. He stopped practice in 2012 at the age of 85 years.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Bob Bailey, Dr. Finlay McAllister, his secretary of many years Carol Sergerie, and the staff at the Mazinkowski Heart Institute, The Glenrose Rehabilitation Center and St. Joseph’s Hospice for their kindness, care, and guidance.
A memorial service will be announced and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the University Hospital Foundation, Division of Gastroenterology, Wensel/Sherbaniuk Lecture.
Dick was an extraordinary man. I cherish memories of the time I spent with him on the tennis court and in conversation on any number of topics, especially his interest in him and everyone he knew living a long and healthy life. I’ll miss him.
I was very sad to see that Dr. Sherbaniuk has passed away. Dick and Dodie were very good friends with my parents and the four of them would travel together on occasion. I can still hear my father talking about how he and Dick would visit various art galleries when they were travelling together and how Dick had an encyclopedic knowledge of so many artists. You couldn’t find two nicer people than Dick and Dodie.
Please accept our condolences.
Bob Sinclair (and Suzan Shaske)
It was an honour to work with Dr Sherbaniuk as a Nurse from 1979-1985. He was a compassionate, skilled and committed physician. May he rest in peace. My sincere condolences to his family. Sincerely Vicki Holmes
It was an honour to have known Dr. Sherbaniuk. A kind and thoughtfull practitioner , ace tennis player and a damn fine man. RIP Dr. Dick.
We shall miss a wonderful physician, teacher, and friend.
Anne Fanning Binder
To Dick’s family
I was greatly saddened to hear of Dick’s passing when Robert phoned. My thoughts and prayers go out to you at this time of mouring. I had great respect for Dick over our association of 51 years. May you gather together and share fond memories about your Dad and your Mom.
Robert Williams
I did not know Dr. Sherbaniuk but, was fortunate to know and work with his daughter Nancy at CKUA Radio. Having had that experience, I understand why there are so many references to Dr. Sherbaniuk that incorporate the word extraordinary. I send my condolences and love to Nan and all of the Sherbaniuk family.
Dick was the consumate physician. I spent three months with him in 1966 and observed how a history SHOULD be taken, carefully, meticulously and sensitively and thus he was my role model for the rest of my career. His partnership with Ron Wensel was ideal, Bob was always running behind and Ron always running ahead, Did they ever meet in the office? Richards knowledge of art, politics, literature was encyclopedic, which sometimes slowed down procedures while he spread his opinions and knowledge :)) Richard will live on in my memory as the ideal thoughtful, caring and wise physician. Thank you Dick, you have earned your rest.
Adrian jones
Dr. Sherbaniuk saved my life. In 1989 I developed severe and sudden onset of Crohns disease. He got me into remission which remains today.
My condolences to his family and friends. He was truly a brilliant man and his compassion for his patients was unmatched.
Brad Hawes
My Condolences to the family of Dr. Richard Sherbaniuk, a wonderful, kind, professional, intelligent Doctor
who I can honestly say that saved my life after he diagnosed me with Ulcerative Colitis. He treated me for over 25 years until I had Ostomy Surgery. I am still here at the age of 90 years enjoying life in my Golden Years! I am forever grateful that he was my Doctor.
Sooo sorry to read about Dr. Sherbaniuk’s passing. He saved my life after being so sick for seven years and having been seen by many Medical people. I was eventually sent to see Dr. Sherbaniuk. he diagnosed me with Ulcerative Colitis and looked after me for over 25 years. He was so talented in his field, a kind and caring Gastro Doctor. If I had not been treated by him I would not be here today at the age of 90 years.
Delighted that he had a long life! Such a dear man as well as a Doctor!