Ramon was born in Trail, B.C. on April 19, 1936, and grew up in Brooks, Alberta, spending his youth fishing, hunting, curling, boxing, playing hockey, attending air cadets, and working on hot rods with his friends. After a Royal Canadian Air Force physical revealed colour blindness, dashing his RCAF pilot dreams cultivated during his wartime childhood, Ramon worked as a truck driver and a clerk for the Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories. In his late 20s, he went back to school, attending Sir George Williams University in Montreal, then medical school at the University of Alberta. He was president of his 1970 graduating class and made his way through school by supporting himself as a dance instructor at Arthur Murray.
After completing medical school, “Dr. O” moved to Vancouver and served the community from his family practice at 1144 Burrard Street from 1971 to 1996, practicing out of St. Paul’s Hospital, where he was the emergency department medical director for many years. Ramon stepped back from full-time practice after receiving a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, but continued practicing part-time at medical clinics on the North Shore until 2011. He took pride in his skills as a physician, worked hard to stay up to date, and always took time with each patient. Ramon had eclectic interests. He loved aviation, building model airplanes and taking every chance he could to fly in small airplanes. He played flamenco guitar, tried his hand at designing home renos, and fished for salmon. In his later years, he was an active churchgoer and loved singing. He also worked to raise funding for the MS Society of Canada, including gathering pledges for walk-a-thons, a hobby he picked up to help maintain strength.
A fiercely proud father, Ramon is survived by his children Simone Orlando, Aaron Orlando, Michael Orlando, and Robert Orlando. He also leaves behind his sisters Valerie Moss and Wendy Adam, nephews Mark Pallister, Paul Pallister, Darrin Vaughan, and Jordy Vaughan, and niece Lana Pallister.
A memorial service will be held at the West Vancouver United Church on March 26, 2023, at 2:00pm. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to the MS Society of Canada.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyviewfuneralhome.com for the Orlando family.
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