DR. JOHN VARSAMIS

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DR. JOHN VARSAMIS We announce with profound sorrow that on April 10, 2006, Dr. John Varsamis died suddenly in his home with the love of his life by his side. Mourning his passing are his wife, Ekaterini; his brother Nicholas, his mother-in-law, Vasso Vassiliadis, his nieces and nephews, Carla and Yorgo Veenhuyzen, and Harris and Stavros Iacovides; his brother and sister-in-law, Hans and Mary Veenhuyzen; his cousins Chris and Stella Iacovides, and a large group of extended family and friends living in Canada and abroad. John was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt where he went to medical school. His first appointment as a physician was in treating the poor in Tobruk, Libya. It was during that time that he married his high school sweetheart, Ekaterini. After completing further training in Psychiatry in London, England, John and Ekaterini settled in Winnipeg, where he worked tirelessly to help Manitobans of all ages suffering from psychiatric illness. As a scientist, he was driven first and foremost by his astute clinical sense. As a teacher, he won Professor of the Year at the University of Manitoba several times. As a thinker, his opinions were valued by policymakers and other leaders in psychiatric health care delivery in the province. He was a proud member of the Greek Diaspora, and a leader in the community. We are proud of all these accomplishments, but his greatest accomplishment of all was simply being the man that he was every single day of his life: calm, kind, generous, patient, intelligent, thoughtful, witty, insightful, humble, and wise. It was in these areas that he truly excelled and distinguished himself as a human being. At one time or another, he was a father to all of us. A funeral service will be held at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church at 2255 Grant Ave. on Thursday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m. Prayers will be held Wednesday evening at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the church. THOMSON Funeral Chapels - 669 Broadway - 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 12, 2006