Matthew Suh, M.D.

It is with deep sadness that we announce Matt’s passing on March 16, 2025, with family by his side. He is survived by his adoring wife Susan, his children Stephen (Marc), Kathy (Tim), and Daniel (Meghan), grandsons Henry and Charley, and three generations of his extended Korean family.  He was predeceased by his first wife Clara, parents Joseph and Maria, and three brothers and two sisters.

Born and raised under Japanese occupation in Iri, Korea, he was the youngest of the family, doted upon and watched over by his mother and sisters. In school he was recognized as a brilliant student. Having been exposed early on to English by the family’s Irish priest, he had his first job translating the Reader’s Digest into Korean at the age of 14. By the time he was a teenager, he had also read most of the classics in English. He developed a habit of reading dictionaries and had an immense vocabulary. The Korean War broke out when he was 19 and he joined the Student Volunteer Forces of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, seeing action after only one month of training. Later, as a senior medical student at Seoul National University, he had a two-year military placement as a medical officer with the US Armed Forces, with the rank of Captain.

Matt leaves a legacy of leadership and academic contributions in his professional life. He emigrated to Canada in 1959 to pursue residency training in psychiatry at the renowned Allen Memorial Institute in Montreal. His first position was as Director of Child Psychiatric Services for the Province of New Brunswick; he was also consultant to the Saint John General and St. Joseph’s Hospitals, and to the Department of the Attorney General. He was granted his Master of Arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of New Brunswick in 1968.

His contributions to the growth of psychiatric services in Ottawa began in 1967, when he was recruited by the Royal Ottawa Hospital as Director of the Children’s Psychiatric Inpatient Service. After nine years, he continued at the Royal as Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services and Director of Adult Psychiatry. He was a consultant psychiatrist at the Ottawa General Hospital and the Grace Hospital. Academically, he was a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. After training in psychoanalysis and becoming a faculty member of the Canadian Institute of Psychoanalysis, he left the Royal and moved to private practice of both psychiatry and psychoanalysis, where he worked until his retirement in 2018.    

Matt was long known for his intellectual prowess, his outstanding English literacy, and his punctiliousness. He had extensive knowledge of world history, military history, and geopolitics. He loved relaxing and socializing with friends and colleagues. As a father he was strict and had high expectations of his children, but could also be tender and loving. He was always thrilled to spend time with his two grandsons. He adored Susan, his devoted companion for over 49 years. He enjoyed reading, gardening, fishing with his children, woodworking, world travel, and good wine. In midlife he shifted his passion for tennis to golf, and revelled in the competitive and social environment at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

We extend sincere gratitude to Drs. Hasimja, Moledina, Toguri and Bruni and the General Internal Medicine and Palliative Care teams at The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus; to his personal support workers at home; and to friend Maria, for their support and compassionate care.

There will be a Celebration of Life for family and friends on May 10^th, 2-5 pm, at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, 1405 Chemin d’Aylmer, Gatineau. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County or to a charity of choice would be appreciated.