Dr Ruth Roffmann 1917-2006

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 48, No. 9, November 2006, Page 466 Obituaries
By: Jorunn Ivarsdatter,

Dr Roffmann was born in Germany on 6 April 1917. She earned her medical degree and began her internship on the front lines during the Second World War.

In 1952, Dr Roffmann and her sister (my mother) immigrated to Canada, settling in Vancouver and Surrey. While on holiday in 1960, Ruth met and fell in love with the head wrangler at a dude ranch. She would go on to marry Jake Reinertson in 1963 and move her practice to the small village of 100 Mile House.

Ruth had a huge learning curve to overcome upon becoming the village doctor in a very rural setting in the middle of cattle country, living on a ranch, and learning about ranching.

Dr Roffmann was loved and respected by her patients for her sense of humor, compassion, and understanding. These attributes did not fade away when a patient came to see her for nonmedical advice.

She had a special relationship with the Aboriginal people of the area, admiring them for their deep commitment to family and to each other.

At the age of 65, Dr Roffmann slowed down a little, working only part-time.

At the age of 70, she retired and joined Jake with full-time ranching.

In 1992, Jake died and the light went out of my aunt’s eyes as she bided her time here on earth, waiting to be with Jake again.

On 14 July 2006, my aunt and uncle were reunited for the last time.

—Jorunn Ivarsdatter
North Vancouver

Jorunn Ivarsdatter,. Dr Ruth Roffmann 1917-2006. BCMJ, Vol. 48, No. 9, November, 2006, Page(s) 466 - Obituaries.


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