Dr. Alan Horst Gerulath, 84, of Etobicoke, peacefully passed away with family by his side on March 13th, 2024, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Alan is survived by his wife, Susan, his sons Karl (Sharon) and Peter (Alana) and his four grandchildren Finn, Jack, Henry and Everett.

Alan was born Horst Alwis Gerulath on March 23, 1939, in a German settlement in Kaunas, Lithuania to Gustaf and Amanda Gerulath. Extraordinary circumstances led Alan’s family to Germany where they lived in Dresden, and Lebenstedt, then to Canada where they settled first in Hamilton and eventually in Toronto. This would become the family home where he spent the rest of his life.

Alan embarked on an academic journey at the University of Toronto, where he cultivated his passion for medicine, earning his M.D. in 1963. His quest for knowledge led him to pursue a two-year fellowship at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, where he earned his Master of Science from the University of Texas. With unwavering commitment, he dedicated his career to serving others as a Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology specializing in Oncology. As well as being an excellent physician, Alan was also a leading scientific researcher in the field of women’s health. Alan was also an educator. He returned to his alma mater as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and lectured around the world. He left an indelible mark on countless lives during his tenure at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto.

It was at St. Michael’s Hospital that Alan met Susan, his travel companion and devoted wife of 54 years. They married, and settled down in Etobicoke, their home base from worldly adventures, and raised their two sons. Following retirement Alan relished his new role as Opa, and delighted in spending time with his grandchildren and finding new adventures to take them on.

Alan was a man of many passions. An intrepid traveler, he roamed the world's corners, collecting experiences and stories. A connoisseur of fine cuisine, he found joy in savoring life's flavors alongside those he held dear, and in close company he never missed an opportunity to share an exaggerated tale, an off-color joke or to feed the dog under the table.

The family invites friends and loved ones to reminisce and pay their respects during the memorial at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor Street West, on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 2-3pm with a memorial service in the Chapel at 3pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Arthritis Society of Canada in Alan’s name would be appreciated.