Dr Russell Hamer Ritchie, FRCS England, Edinburgh and Canada. 19 May 1941 – 16 January 2026. Born in Ruabon, Wales. He trained as a general and vascular surgeon at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. In 1965, he married Ruth Ritchie (née Burn).
Russell worked in medicine in England until moving to Canada in 1973 with Ruth and their daughters Rachael and Victoria, soon joined by their son Russell T. They first settled in Penticton before moving to Naramata, where they fully embraced life in Canada. Russell was an enthusiastic learner who took pride in being at the forefront of surgical knowledge to provide the best care for his patients. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed storytelling, forming strong friendships with his medical colleagues and beyond. At home, he encouraged his children to excel in everything, especially education, which he believed was key to living a fulfilling life. Russell also sought adventure and fun; he and Ruth engaged with the agricultural lifestyle of the Okanagan by cultivating a small orchard followed by a vineyard in Naramata. The family traveled through BC and the Pacific Northwest by car, often around swim meets where Russell meticulously tracked each child’s performance, even stepping in for relay races when needed.
Some unforgettable family vacations included trips to the US and Mexico-one of which required Russell to master Spanish through lessons taken beforehand. He maintained close ties with his brother and friends back in the UK as well. While living in Okanagan, he eagerly joined friends for outdoor activities like horseback riding into the backcountry, hunting, fly-fishing, and golfing.
In 2003, Russell transitioned into semi-retirement while spending time working visits to New Zealand and volunteering by teaching anatomy to medical students at UBC. During retirement, he and Ruth traveled extensively across Canada as well as visiting places like China, India, and various parts of Europe. Whether preparing for travels or building model ships or tackling cryptic crosswords, Russell approached all his hobbies with a surgeon’s precision. With enthusiasm for family interests intact upon becoming a grandfather three times over, he took pride in knowing what each grandchild was involved with academically or otherwise while supporting their pursuits wholeheartedly. He provided rides to rowing regattas or cheering them on at rugby matches or concerts while being present at model club events too. Aware of how fortunate they were to see their children grow into thriving adults alongside grandchildren flourishing under their support-he often reflected that childhood dreams could not have prepared him for such a rich life experience.
A private family service will be held later on. Donations made in Russell’s memory can go towards Médecins Sans Frontières www. msf. org
