Jairo Ortiz

Jairo Enrique Ortiz passed away peacefully in Toronto on May 29, 2024, at the age of 76. He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Vicky; his loving children Marcela (Ravindra) and Carlos (Teresa); and his cherished grandchildren Leila-Indira, Rubén, Carmen, and Elyse.
 
Jairo was born in Bogota, Colombia on June 19, 1947. From an early age, he valued education and social justice. By the 1960s he was active in many student-led protests, advocating for people’s rights. His first foray into university took him to Miami, later returning to Colombia to become a psychologist. Following community development work in the Amazon, he became a psychology professor at Pontifica Universidad Javeriana in Colombia until moving to Toronto in 1979 with his young family.
 
Jairo’s love of family was obvious to anyone that knew him. It was rare to see him and Vicky apart. Whether it was supporting his daughter’s early morning swim practices, or his son’s baseball and football games, he was their biggest supporter and fan, never missing an opportunity to cheer them on. This joy extended to his grandchildren as he attended graduation ceremonies and plays, asked about what was important to them, listened to their favourite music, and hung their art on the wall next to his own.
 
A life-long learner, Jairo returned to school in 1993, completing a bachelor’s degree in social work at Ryerson University. This reflected his career of helping others, including adults with developmental disabilities and child protection services. In 1999, Jairo earned a master’s degree in social work part-time at the University of Toronto, graduating on the same day and from the same program as his daughter. Alongside clinical work in the bariatric unit of the Toronto Western Hospital until his retirement, he presented research and guided MSW students in English and Spanish.
 
Some of Jairo’s many passions in life included photography, cars, music, traveling, and food. He was always the one taking pictures during family events and celebrations. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of cars, able to pinpoint exact models and years of any he saw on the street. His love of a wide range of music had the family home full of the sight and sounds of hundreds of records and CDs, like Pavarotti, the Three Tenors, and Bocelli. Fond of travel, he treasured family vacations, from a road trip to Florida, camping with friends, or touring the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. He and Vicky were always eager to enjoy and try restaurants throughout the city, with a particular love of Latin and Asian cuisine.
 
In retirement, Jairo developed a passion for art, eventually becoming a member and president of the Willowdale Group of Artists. After taking classes on the fundamentals of painting in 2005, the family home became filled with his painted landscapes on every wall, taking inspiration from the photography of his many travels.
 
Throughout his long and full life, Jairo developed strong friendships with people from every walk of life. As you got to know him, you were eventually drawn to his kindness and generosity. A wide network of Colombian friends became extended family that came together regularly for holidays and celebrations, which was very special and important to him as he settled into a new life in Canada. Living in Thornhill, Ontario since 1988, Jairo and Vicky were part of a close knit community. His neighbours also became life-long friends. For Jairo, family extended beyond blood, and it included anyone fortunate enough to experience the depth of his care and attentiveness. He will be greatly missed.
 
In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to Toronto Metropolitan University to support the faculty of Community Services. Under Designate your Gift, please select Social Work. Your donation will go to a discretionary emergency fund to assist students in need.