Obituary of DR. IHOR MAYBA

Dr. Ihor Mayba

 

May 23, 1931 – October 25, 2018

 

 

Peacefully on October 25, 2018, Dr. Ihor Mayba fell asleep in the Lord at Holy Family Home, where he had resided and received loving and compassionate care over the past year.  Celebrating his earthly life, and cherishing his memory are his wife of sixty years, Helen; son Paul; and, son John and his wife Natalie, together with their four children Julia, Katherine, Andrew and Alexander. 

 

Ihor was the son of Ukrainian immigrants who came to Canada from Krywychy, Ukraine, during the second wave of immigration to Canada from Eastern Europe and Ukraine.  He was the youngest of five children born to the Very Reverend Ivan Mayba and Sophia Yuschysyn.  He was predeceased by both his parents: Rev. Ivan in 1983, his mother, Sophia, in 1965; as well as by his siblings – brother William in 2000, sister Gloria Pawlyshyn in 2006, sister Nadia in 2011, and his brother Bohdan in March 2018.

 

Born on May 23, 1931 in Vegreville, Alberta, where his father served the local Ukrainian Orthodox parish, Ihor moved several times throughout rural Saskatchewan, namely living in the communities of Wakaw, Arran and North Battleford, all of which were parishes served by his father.  It was in these small towns where he received his early education.  Following his graduation from North Battleford Collegiate Institute, Ihor moved to Winnipeg in 1949 and studied at the University of Manitoba, completing his Bachelor of Science degree in 1952, and his Doctor of Medicine in 1957. He completed his internship at St. Boniface Hospital, and his postgraduate work in surgical training at the Colonel Belcher Veteran’s Hospital in Calgary, Alberta.

 

On August 9, 1958, Ihor married Helen Dolynchuk, and shortly after the newlyweds were off to Swift Current, Saskatchewan and Brandon, Manitoba, where he started a general office practice.  Returning to Winnipeg, Ihor entered the General Surgery program at the University of Manitoba receiving his diploma in surgery in 1962 and commencing his practice in this field at the Manitoba Clinic.  It was at the clinic that Ihor worked in association with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Elmer James who mentored this young surgeon and influenced his decision to pursue further training in Orthopedic Surgery.  Working with Dr. James and being certified by the American Board of General Surgery (1963), in 1965, he embarked upon his orthopedic training at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, obtaining his fellowship in 1967.

 

Returning to Winnipeg in 1967 he re-established his medical practice at the Manitoba Clinic, now as an orthopedic surgeon.  For the next fifty years he would have a profound effect on orthopedic surgery, including performing the first total hip and knee joint replacements at the Misericordia Hospital in the 1970s, as head of orthopedics.  He also held staff appointments at the Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital, as well as the Rehabilitation Hospital and the Shriners’ Hospital; served as an examiner with the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists and as an assistant professor in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Manitoba.  

 

Service, generosity, passion and family were the pillars upon which Ihor lived his life – service to his country as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and later as a pilot officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.  He was generous with the time he dedicated to his patients, his willingness to do house calls and seeing people after hours at his office or on weekends. Whenever they needed him, he gave of his time – values and principles of a man of medicine from an earlier time.

 

Ihor had many passions – love of his Ukrainian heritage, love of community, love of history and love of his family. 

 

Ihor undertook his first of eight trips to Ukraine in 1992.  These trips were important to him as he saw first-hand the homeland of his forbearers, which gave him the energy to write with passion and insight regular newspaper columns for the Winnipeg Sun Ukrainian page and various local Ukrainian newspapers and magazines. There he showcased the Ukrainian community with historical figures, customs, holidays and events.

 

His involvement with the Manitoba Historical and Scientific Society, the Manitoba History of Medicine Society, the Canadian and Manitoba Orthopedic Societies, the Advisory Board of the Holy Family Nursing Home, the Sherlock Holmes Society, the Arthur Conan Doyle Society, the Intrepid Society, the Ukrainian Professional Business Club, the Ukrainian National Home Association, the Ukrainian Fraternal Society and Trident Press; serving as President of many of these organizations, as well as President and board member of the Manitoba Clinic, provided an example for his family and friends of the importance of giving back to the community in a tangible way.  Ihor authored two books: one about the history of Orthopedic Surgeons in Manitoba and the other being a book about the Manitoba Clinic. 

 

He had no greater passion than for his family.  Whether taking his three-year old son John to Expo 67; or taking his boys John and Paul to see the WHA Winnipeg Jets, as well as the 1972 and 1974 Canada/Russia hockey games; or trips together as a family throughout North America; or other special events too numerous to mention, the importance of family was at the core of his being.  An ardent supporter of any and all of his sons’ activities, and the significant contributions made to the community by his wife Helen as a school trustee for so many years, one only had to stop by his office to see his pride reflected in the pictures and newspaper articles which graced his office walls. 

 

This pride of family flourished when it came to his four grandchildren.  One of his greatest joys was following and supporting their activities and witnessing their accomplishments, especially their musical activities.  However, it was in those quiet times when he would simply ask how they were doing and listen to their stories that you saw his beaming face and the true love of a grandfather shine through.

 

A lifelong member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, as a member of St. Michael’s Heritage parish for the last seventeen years, he actively participated in the Sacraments of the church throughout his life.

 

The family thanks Reverend Statkevych for his pastoral care.  We acknowledge with deep appreciation the volunteers and staff of Holy Family Home for the loving care and respect shown to him over the past year. We especially thank Drs. Andrea Babick and Terry Babick for their compassionate medical and spiritual care.  Finally, we thank the many friends who over the past few years, at his home on Melness Bay or at Holy Family, took the time to remember him and visit with him – we sincerely appreciate these gestures.  The family also acknowledges and extends their thanks to Cropo Funeral Chapel for their support and consideration. As per Ihor’s wishes, a private funeral service has taken place.

 

Donations in Ihor’s memory can be made to Holy Family Home, 165 Aberdeen Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2W 1T9 or St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Heritage Church, 110 Disraeli Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2W 3J5

 

“You can shed a tear that he is gone, or you can smile because he has lived.  You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.  You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.  You can remember him and only that he’s gone or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.” 

 

Vichnaya Pamyat – Memory Eternal.