Raymond (Ray) Eugene Rudiak

Ray passed away peacefully at his home in Calgary on December 14, 2020. Ray was born in 1934 in Fort William, Ontario, known today as Thunder Bay.  

At only five months old Ray was moved from the city to a log cabin in the bush where his parents, Daniel and Anne Rudiak, set out to pioneer to what was to become the new gold mining town of Geraldton, Ontario. He grew up and attended school in Geraldton with his two brothers and three sisters.  Ray then went on to study at Ryerson University in Toronto, graduating in 1957 with a degree in Architectural Technology. Ray married his wife Anne in Toronto in 1959. After graduation from Ryerson University, Ray was employed by a division of Chevron in Toronto, Ontario and transferred to Calgary in 1969, where he and Anne raised three children: a daughter Dianne and sons Daniel and David. 

In his younger years, Ray was known as “Beaver”.   Ray excelled in playing hockey and went on to play for Ryerson and coached hockey in his adult years in Calgary. He was an avid fan of Canadian football and hockey and supported both the Calgary Stampeders and the Calgary Flames.

Ray’s career in Calgary moved him into a new industry where he became property manager for Richfield commercial and industrial properties. Later in life, Ray continued his work in property management with the government, where he relocated to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut for a period, until returning to Calgary for his retirement years.

Ray was an active volunteer in any community he lived, and with his wife Anne, he volunteered regularly with the BAR U Natural Heritage Ranch and the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, where they are remembered with a memorial bench.

Ray was predeceased by his wife Anne of 55 years, his parents of Thunder Bay, Ontario, his brother Bill of Elliot Lake, Ontario and his son David of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Ray is survived by his daughter Dianne of Calgary, Alberta, his son Daniel (Lorianne) of Calgary, Alberta, and his daughter-in-law Lori of Regina, Saskatchewan; along with his siblings Myron Rudiak (Carol) of Stratford, Ontario, Oris Hanson (Ron), of Calgary, Alberta, Sonia Holden (Ray) of Fergus, Ontario and Dana Stefurak (Con) of London, Ontario.

Ray also leaves behind his seven grandchildren, Amanda, Austin, Chantal, Hope, Mathew, Tiffany and Victoria, and two great-grandchildren, Grace and Theophilus (Theo).

Cremation has taken place and as per Ray’s request there will be no funeral services held.

In memory of Ray, please consider making a memorial donation to the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, the Alberta Cancer Foundation for the Tom Baker Cancer Centre or your favoured charity.