Alex Robert Yarrow

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Alex Robert Yarrow, who died peacefully on November 20, 2024, at the age of 95, at Tapestry UBC, surrounded by his children. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Lois.

Born on July 1, 1929, in St. Paul, Alberta, Alex was the fifth-oldest child of Fred and Dominica, who immigrated from Ukraine to Canada in 1926. He was predeceased by his siblings Bill, Polly, Joe, Katie, Nick, and John, and is survived by his younger siblings Anne, Helen, Mike, and Nina.

Alex’s childhood on the family farm instilled a strong work ethic, but it was his intellectual curiosity that led him to pursue higher education. At 15, he moved to Toronto to live with his brother Joe and family. He graduated from Harbor Collegiate Institute and attended the University of Toronto on a scholarship. While in medical school, Alex met Lois during a hospital stay, and they married in 1952. They had four children: Gordon, Colin, Patricia, and Leslie.

After their marriage, Alex completed a two-year internship in Vancouver beginning in 1954 and worked as a General Practitioner. His experience at Hollywood Hospital treating psychiatric patients inspired him to pursue psychiatry. He trained at Essondale Hospital, UBC, and McGill University, becoming a certified psychiatrist in 1962. He worked at Riverview Health Services before opening his psychiatric practice in Vancouver in 1965. In 1972, he became head of the Psychiatry Department at St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he worked until retiring in 1992.

Outside of his professional life, Alex had a deep love for skiing and golfing. In 1968, he and Lois built a summer cabin with their children, a place where Alex loved to build, putter, fix things, play golf, and water ski. The cabin became a cherished gathering place for the family. In 1969, he built a ski cabin in Whistler, where he enjoyed many years of skiing with family and friends. He was a member of Point Grey Golf Club, playing there regularly until 2024.

An avid learner, Alex had a wide-ranging knowledge of topics from politics to construction. He was a kind friend and mentor and a treasured member of the Tapestry community at UBC.

Alex is survived by his children Gordon (Lori), Colin, Patricia (Paul), and Leslie (Dan); grandchildren Ben, Carla, Leanne, Natacha, Ashley, Tara, Lucas, Madeleine, and Genevieve; and great-grandchildren Everley, Madden, Georgia, and Charlie.

The family thanks the staff at Tapestry for their exceptional care. A private gathering will be held to spread his ashes alongside Lois at the summer cabin—“the magical place” they cherished.