A reception will be held at 1:30pm following the service at the McMaster Alumni Memorial Centre (formerly the Faculty Club).  All are welcome.

Eugene Vayda passed away at the age of 99 surrounded by his wife of 75 years, Elaine and loving family. He was comfortable and cared for by the team at Amica Retirement Home in Dundas.  Beloved father of Paul and late Joseph, father-in-law of Susanne, and son of Sol and Sophie, he is survived by three grandchildren, Marc, Jessica and Erik; and three great-grandchildren, Rupert, Lorelai, and Felix. He will be greatly missed by his friends, family, and caregivers.

Eugene Vayda was a physician specializing in internal medicine and a university professor. He was a writer in medical journals on health care policy. An avid fan of theatre and art, he enjoyed the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, Soulpepper theatre and collected artwork from the Canadian arctic.

Eugene and Elaine were married on June 18, 1949, and received a recognition on their 60th anniversary from the Queen and Prime Minister. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1925, he moved to Hamilton in 1970 and then resided in a historic home in the Toronto Annex.  A passionate sports fan, he watched the Cleveland Guardians and Browns often all day on Sundays.

Eugene Vayda was trained at Case Western Reserve University.  Initially in private practice, he then founded the Community Health Foundation, which offered full pre-paid medical care, supported by the Steelworkers and other local unions. Moving to Canada, he was one of the founders of McMaster Medical School. As a professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, he engaged in research using an endowment from the Millbank Memorial Fund Fellowship, which allowed him to study health care delivery all over the world, culminating in comparisons of different local medical systems. He was always a supporter of the Canadian medical system, and helped to develop group practices in Canadian communities.

In 1976, he moved to the University of Toronto and became Dean of Community Medicine.  After retirement, he worked as a  consultant in various provinces
and countries to improve health care systems.

Donations may be directed to Case Western Reserve University, in support of a free comprehensive health care facility that Eugene and Elaine helped establish. Anyone interested in doing so should contact Colleen Sporar at CWRU through case.edu