Val Raz, age 96, of Longwood, Florida, passed away on May 18, 2022. Val was born on February 24, 1926 in Tolosa, Leyte, Philippines and was predeceased by his parents Valentin Raz, Sr., and Maria Dolores Palana Raz. He is the last survivor of the Raz sibilings and therefore is the darling of the Palana/Raz clan.
Val was a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas College of Medicine; the oldest medical school in the Far East. Upon passing the Board of Medicine, he flew to the United States for his Internship and residencies at St. Mary’s Hospital, Palm Springs, California, his first assignment. From there he continued his residencies in Michigan, Washington, D.C., and at the Maryland School of Public Service. Raz also spent 5 years as the Aviation M.D. with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Canada.
He met and married his wife of 55 years, Josephine in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, after which they decided to go back to the States. In Florida, he was invited by the Director of Orange County Health Department to open the T.B. Department and also the S.T.D. Department. Raz worked for 25 years and retired in 2000.
Upon his retirement, the couple continued what they had been doing –travelling around the world, playing mahjong with friends on weekends and going to Casino.
Vas was a man of deep faith, conservative and prayerful. He had great empathy for others – especially the downtrodden. He was a blessing to all who knew him – an epitome of Grace, Honesty and Love. He will be missed greatly.