It is with great sadness that we announce that our husband, father and grandfather, Dr. Paul Kortan, passed away on Nov. 26, 2022. He was 73 years old.
Paul was born in Košice, Slovakia (then Czechoslovakia), on March 19, 1949, to Alexander and Vera Kortan. In August 1968, while in Switzerland on his way home from a holiday, Paul received word from his parents that he should not return home as Soviet-led troops had invaded Czechoslovakia. So, at the age of 19, with nothing more than a backpack, Paul immigrated to Canada.
He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, went on to study medicine at McMaster University, returned to Toronto for postgraduate training and proceeded to complete training with specialists in Belgium and Germany. Paul became a dedicated therapeutic endoscopist at the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto, which eventually merged with St. Michael’s Hospital, where he spent the remainder of his career. Paul worked his way to the pinnacle of his profession, where he was universally respected by his fellow physicians, cherished by his students and loved by his patients.
Paul leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Sylvia; children, Allan (Ashley) and Daniela (James); sister, Cathy (George); and granddaughter, Ava.
Paul loved to make those around him laugh, keep up-to-date with global political affairs and enjoy his limited free time with family and friends. He was a truly caring and humble man who impacted many people with his empathy, love and compassion.
He will be dearly missed and remembered for his larger-than-life personality, his incredible sense of humour and his immutable kindness.
