Barbara Surine’s lifelong connection to Royal University Hospital came full circle with a final act of generosity that will benefit patients
and care teams for years to come.
A nurse by training and a longtime donor, Barbara supported seven different campaigns at Royal University Hospital Foundation since 1990. Her gifts ranging from $20 to $5,000—helped fund vital equipment and care across the hospital, from Saskatchewan’s first MRI to the Irene and Leslie Dubé
Centre for Mental Health.
Gifts like Barbara’s—of all sizes and in many forms—are deeply meaningful and have a lasting impact.
In 2018, Barbara took another extraordinary step by naming RUH Foundation in her Will. Her gift was undesignated (not directed to a specific area, so it can be used where it’s needed most)—a meaningful expression of trust in the Foundation to direct her legacy to the hospital’s most pressing needs.
Barbara passed away in January 2024, leaving behind a legacy grounded in generosity and quiet strength. Barbara’s family supported her heartfelt decision to include RUH Foundation in her Will. She often spoke of the exceptional care she and her loved ones received at RUH, including the compassionate attention given to her husband Ray before his passing in 2004, and her own successful breast cancer surgery in 2018.
“Mom understood the neverending demands that our healthcare system has and she was very pleased to be able to donate,” says her son, Warren Surine. “We trust that the gift will be put to good use for the benefit of those people that are in need. Thank you from our family.”
Barbara knew first-hand how health-care needs evolve. By leaving her gift unrestricted, she ensured that her legacy would respond to whatever needs arise— whether advancing cardiology, enhancing mental health services, improving trauma care, purchasing vital equipment, or beyond.
We thank Barbara and her family for this enduring gift that will help so many.
Read the full 2025 Lasting Impact newsletter.
