Edward Victor Rafuse

He is survived by Barbara (Rosborough), his loving wife of 64 years; his two sons, Paul and Victor (Jo Ann Brock) and his sister, Irma Maxwell. He also leaves behind his four grandchildren, Erin (Trevor Burd), Ben (Breanna Lane), Emily and Brock.

He was predeceased by his parents, Perley Rafuse and Isobel Ryan and his daughter, Beth.

Ed will be remembered by many as an eye physician and surgeon, but he got his start as the doctor for Victoria County in the early 1960s. He was the sole physician at Buchanan Memorial in Neil’s Harbour providing any service with even a remote relationship to the profession of medicine. The stories abounded. After returning to the city for a year of higher learning at the Halifax Infirmary, he took his young family to Toronto to study Ophthalmology. They returned to Halifax in 1968 where he practiced as a comprehensive eye surgeon for over 30 years. Not looking for trouble, Ed often found himself in volunteer positions of leadership which included Acting Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Dalhousie, President of the Medical Society of Nova Scotia (now Doctors Nova Scotia) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Medical Association. He was a founding member of the Atlantic Provinces Ophthalmological Society (now Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Atlantic Canada). He served the Provincial Medical Board (now the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia), the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and many, many hospital and medical society committees that have been lost in the family archives. He didn’t keep meticulous records.

In the hours outside of his work, he spent as much time as possible with his family at the cottage in Chester Basin and later at the East Chester property which became Ed and Barb’s home. He was an enthusiastic handyman, woodsman, sailor and even SCUBA diver for a short period; but his real passion was aviation. Ed had a recreational pilot’s license and flew his plane in to his 80s. He and Barb did many trips and cruises until an eventful Holland America cruise in the Pacific a few years ago. That is another story.

The family would like to thank Drs Millen and Lovett, and the other physicians and nurses at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunen burg, for their kind care.

To celebrate the life, and hear some of the stories, of Ed Rafuse, the family invites friends to a visitation at JA Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, on December 10th from 6-8 p.m. A memorial service will be held the following day on December 11th at St. Andrew’s United Church, 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the CNIB