Dr. Ralph John Scandiffio

Age 79, passed away on July 3, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa surrounded by his family.  Ralph was the adoring husband of Eileen Elizabeth (nee Shanahan) and loving father of Michael and Laura. He was father-in-law to Debora Brown and Robert Ellis and grandfather to Claire, Gregory, Nicholas and Thomas. Ralph was born in 1940 in Toronto, son of Michael Anthony and Margaret Mary (nee Lyons) Scandiffio. He was predeceased by his brother Peter and sister-in-law Janet, and survived by siblings Michael (June), John (Marianne), Marguerite (Ora Mae Guinness), Thomas (Ivan Marinkovic) and Frances Donley (widow of the late Martin Donley), as well as many nieces and nephews. As a longtime Ottawa physician, Ralph served his community throughout his professional life. He graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1966, then became a Captain in the Medical Services Branch of the Royal Canadian Air Force and joined the Department of Medicine at the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa, following his service in Lahr, Germany. Together with his medical partner and life-long friend Dr. Robert Taite, Ralph practiced Family Medicine for nearly 30 years in Beacon Hill and Blackburn Hamlet. He also served for a period as the Chief of Family Practice at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. After private practice, Ralph joined the Appeal Division of the Canada Pension Plan as a Medical Advisor, and later volunteered with Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa. Insatiably curious, Ralph was well-read and loved music, art and photography. His cottage was where he sailed, canoed and found peace and joy with family and friends for nearly 40 years. His other passion was for traveling with the love of his life Eileen and dear friends throughout our country, the hemisphere, and Europe. Ralph’s family wishes to thank the staff of the Radiation Oncology Department at the General Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, Cite Parkway Retirement Residence, and St. Patrick’s Home for their compassionate care. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass and reception on Monday, July 15, 2019 at the Annunciation of the Lord Parish, 2414 Ogilvie Rd., Gloucester, Ontario at 10:30 am. A private family interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County or the Bruyere Foundation.