Editorial

Vic Ratsma
You Will Be Missed!

Vic Ratsma, after struggling long with cancer, finally passed away November 17, 2004 at the hospital in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, with his family beside him as he faded away. A fighter for the cause and peace in the word until his last breath.

Vic was born in The Netherlands and came to Canada, worked as a quality control inspector for the Canada Post, besides raising his family in the city of Winnipeg.

He was the Secretary if the Winnipeg Branch of the Canada-USSR Association for many years and, of all the 42 branches of the Association across Canada, Winnipeg Branch was the only one that had a Cable TV show for close to ten years, showing Soviet Films, interviewing Soviet delegates that came to Canada, besides informing the viewers about the latest developments in the USSR. Vic was the producer and the host of this very important work of building friendship between Canada and the USSR.

He was sent as a delegate o the Soviet Union as a guest of the USSR-Canada Society. He made many trips to Holland to see his family and he corresponded and wrote articles for many international newspapers and many of his articles appeared on the Internet web pages. His many articles were translated in countries like Nepal, India, Russia, The Netherlands, Ukraine and many others.

Vic took a very active and leading part in the many Canada-USSR Conferences that were held regularly.

We all can learn from Vic Ratsma – his devotion to the cause of peace and socialism, his positive attitude to the complex problems that we encountered, his disposition and zeal to promote a united front in our work and above all – his comradeship and friendship that everyone admired.

Vic was very enthusiastic and planned to attend the forthcoming Second World Congress for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People that will be held in 2005.

Even though you will not be present at this very important Congress, your spirit and your dedication will permeate amongst all of the delegates gathered there from around the world.

We are sending our deepest condolences to his family here in Canada and in the Netherlands, and, to all of his many friends here in Canada and in other countries where NSC is read.

On behalf of the Editorial Board of NSC and on behalf of the Executive Committee of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People –

Michael Lucas
Editor of NSC
Chairman of the International Council

Dear friends:

I am sending this e-mail of condolences from my Grandfather, David Mackling on the passing away of his friend Vic Ratsma.

As someone who has witnessed my Grandfather’s passion for what he always calls "the cause", I can tell you that Vic was truly one of Grandpa’s "Guiding Lights". It’s sad when we lose some one with so much passion, whether you agree with every stand or not.

Greg Mackling, Grandson

It is with much sadness that we learned of the death of our dear friend and comrade, Vic Ratsma.

I am sure that all the members of our former Winnipeg Branch of the Canada-USSR Association will share with me the lose of someone that was loved and respected by many.

Vic was a tireless worker for so many years and he shall be long remembered for his devotion to the cause.

On behalf of Vic’s many friends in Winnipeg, we send our most sincere symphaty to Vic’s family.

David Mackling
Past Chairman
Canada-USSR Association

About comrade Vic Ratsma!

Holding in my hand his obituary from the Chronicle Herald of Nova Scotia, we extend our condolences to his family, some living in Canada and others in Holland where Vic was born. I respectfully write about Vic’s internationalism.

Vic will be remembered not only as a husband, father, grandfather, a good friend, but also as an investigative journalist with very special abilities of understanding the needs of the working class. He explained problems in way that was easily understood.

I remember one time discussing with Vic about working class songs. We both sang Solidarity Forever in Toronto at a gathering. We went through many songs and Vic said that people all over the world are singing these sings, whether in Holland, the Soviet Union, America or Africa.

Today in our home we sang some of these songs and dedicated them to Vic, But Vic Ratsma the journalist lives on, for just today, as I opened the latest issue of NSC, on page 17, I started to read Vic’s article "Eying Africa" and how the corporate interests of the transnational corporations clearly are to blame for the suffering of the people San Tome and Principe in West Africa.

Vic the internationalist journalist lives on. It’s all there for our eyes to see.

Jerry Morse
Canada