Obituary of Dr. Ralph Gilbert Perry

November 22, 1931 - Veteran, Alberta

December 7, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

We regret to announce the passing of Ralph December 8, 2022 at the Colonel Belcher care home. He died peacefully in his sleep with family by his side.

Ralph was born 1931 in Veteran, Alberta, attended high school with academic scholarship in Drumheller and entered University of Alberta through the R.O.T.C. program obtaining a D.D.S. After university he served with the Canadian Army in Canada, Germany and participated in the 1957 U.N. intervention in Egypt.

In 1959 Ralph met the beautiful and vivacious Helen, who’s trip around the world was briefly interrupted in marrying Ralph and raising a family of four boys. Together they would subsequently complete numerous adventurous travels spanning North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Ralph’s professional civilian dentistry career began in Killam, Alberta before moving to Calgary to build a flourishing family practice during which he treated generations of children and adults in the Northwest based on his abiding values of technical competence, empathy, and integrity.

Ralph was a talented pianist and gregarious showman. Ralph’s technical skills earned him opportunities to play for professional theatre in Calgary, including large productions showing at the Jubilee Auditorium, and supporting Royal Academy of Music applicants. His real passion (and “art”) however was in playing with his like-minded musical pals doing music hall revue “Bull and Bush”, or “Breakfast with Santa” local shows. Dinner parties from Calgary to India have enjoyed guests gathered around to sing their old favorites around the piano while Ralph played in brilliant accompaniment. Ralph’s gift was, during a shared performance, to make the singer, or soloist “shine”.

Ralph loved to engage people of all walks of life and was successful at curating friends both twice and half his age. Ralph and Helen’s home was a welcome place for many physical and intellectual travelers.

Ralph’s curious mind led him to return, middle-aged, to university to complete a Bachelor of History degree. His “mature student” status aroused such interest from the faculty that they nominated him to serve there as a member of the University of Calgary Senate. He was also a supporter of the Calgary branch of Zeta Psi, an international fraternity, and his alma mater from U of A.

Ralph was politically active with Western Canadian parties and was a proud “First 100” member of the Reform party.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 63 years Helen (Cathcart); his sons, their wives, and families David (Ritu, Meg, Emily, and Diya), John (Bucky, Stephanie, Jordan, and Ian), Robert (Mutriba, Sara, Irfan) and Michael (Karyn and Jack). He is also survived by English relatives, his sister-in-law Carol, and niece and nephew, Fiona (Gerry) and Richard (Emma, Ellen, Ben, and Josie), his nieces Elaine Sinclair (Greg, Perry) and Janet Locken (Mel and Donovan) and brother-in-law Richard. He was predeceased by his parents Gilbert and Myrtle (nee Lewis) Perry, brother Lewis, sister-in-law Grace and brother-in-law John Cathcart.

Ralph’s final years, with his family’s eternal thanks and respect, were spent in the enviable care of the generous and competent staff of the Carewest Colonel Belcher long term care center in Calgary.

As per Ralph’s wishes no formal services will be held. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Ralph Perry, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.