On September 14, 2025, Theodore “Ted” AvRuskin M.D. passed away at age 89 in Oregon from complications after surgery, while comforted by his devoted daughters.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 58 years Marilyn, identical twin brother Stan, and sister Arlene. Survived by daughters Tara, Andrea, Carla, and grandsons Max, Westin, Parker.

Ted was the son of a cattle drover and grew up in Salem, Ontario, around the corner from the family's blue barn on Avruskin Street. A childhood of farm chores was motivation for him and “Brother Stan” to leave for university in Toronto, where they joined the Royal Canadian Navy to pay for medical school & law school, respectively. Post-graduate work in Montreal led to meeting the love of his life Marilyn, a nurse, and they married there in 1962. Soon after, they immigrated to the United States for his specialty training in Pediatric Endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. There, they had 3 daughters. In 1970 he accepted teaching & research positions at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, NY where he remained on staff until his retirement from clinical practice in 2016 at age 80. With great pride as Director and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, he held the residents & fellows he taught to the highest standards, consulted on quality care of hospitalized patients, and published over 100 research articles on diabetes, thyroid and growth hormone disorders. He cared deeply about his students, colleagues, patients and research and was highly respected.

Ted & Marilyn lived in Rockville Centre, NY for 49 years before relocating to live near their daughters in Oregon. They loved to travel worldwide, often bringing family with them. A self-described “addicted bibliophile”, weekends were for sunning on the deck or by a window with a crime novel in his lap. Evenings were spent in his hockey themed man-cave with everyone cheering on the NY Islanders, or strolling the boardwalk at Jones Beach holding hands with his wife. If Willie, Merle or Johnny were on he’d turn the volume up high and croon along. He & his wife enjoyed ballroom dancing together and performed in many local competitions. He adored Marilyn and longed for her since she passed. He continued to fill her bird feeders every day, and meticulously kept list of the species that visited. Ted was the master of Dad jokes, and a hugger. He politely thanked Siri when seeking help for the New York Times Mini Crossword answers. He was driven to dispense advice, loved his family hard and was a proud provider. A truly wonderful man, he will be sorely missed!

Donations are directed to Doctors Without Borders and letsgrowhub.com. 

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