DR. RICKY KASCHACHTER

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DR. RICKY KANEE SCHACHTER 1918 - 2007 Healer, educator, innovator and advocate for the rights of women, Jews and people in need, passed away peacefully on July 1 following a prolonged illness during which she was constantly surrounded by the love of her family and friends. We thank the staff at the Toronto Western and Baycrest Hospitals for their compassion and exemplary care. Our special thanks to the caregivers Naty, Lota, and Erwina. Dr. Ricky Schachter had a long, productive and fulfilling life. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Benjamin Schachter; dear mother and mother-in-law of Dr. Daniel and Anya Schachter, and Bonnie and Peter Druxerman; adoring grandmother of Reva and Jonathan Schachter, and Jessie and Cobi Druxerman; and loving aunt to all of her nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Rose and Sam Kanee; and her brothers, Abe, Dr. Ben, Sol, and Harry who died at an early age. Raised in Melville, Saskatchewan, Ricky was the daughter of self-educated immigrants, who instilled in her the value of education. She put herself through the universities of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and through medical school at University of Toronto in the early 1940s, later following in her older brother's footsteps to specialize in dermatology at Columbia University in New York, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College in 1950. Ricky settled with her husband, a biochemist, in Toronto where they raised their family. Dr. Ricky, as she preferred to be called, spent every day of her career fighting for equality and patient care, opening many doors for women in her discipline and pioneering new techniques for treating chronic dermatological conditions such as psoriasis and scleroderma. Her hard work, energy and devotion earned her many distinctions, including the Award of Merit from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Order of Canada, the Canadian Dermatology Association Practioner of the Year Award and an honourary doctorate from Queen's University, but she always listed family on her CV as her most important contribution. She has been honoured for her contributions by medical associations from Ontario to Poland. Dr. Schachter took great pride in her achievements, and continued working tirelessly for the benefit of her patients until she became ill in 2006. Dr. Schachter will be sorely missed by her family, friends, colleagues, students and patients. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at Beth Tzedec Synagogue, 1700 Bathurst St. Interment will follow at Beth Tzedec Memorial Park, 5822 Bathurst St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ricky Kanee Schachter Memorial Fund, care of the Benjamin Foundation, 3429 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2C3, 416-780-0324.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 03, 2007