Name:
Natale Joseph Toplack 
Location served:
Chatham  
Years in Practice:
1952 to 1976
Area of Specialization:
Pathology  

Biography:

Dr. Natale Joseph Toplack was born in Pozega, Croatia on the 8th of December, 1921.  Dr. Toplack was the only child born to his parents, Anthony and Antonia Toplack.  When he was 2 years old, Dr. Toplack and his parents immigrated to Canada and they settled in Brantford, Ontario.  According to the 1931 census, the Toplack family resided at 30 S. Market Street in Brantford and his father worked as a jeweller.  Dr. Toplack received his education in Brantford, graduating from Brantford Collegiate Institute.

Dr. Toplack attended The University of Western Ontario graduating M.D. in 1945.   He pursued his Masters Degree, graduating M.Sc in 1950.  He interned at Victoria Hospital in London.

In May of 1945 Dr. Toplack married Mary Margaret Schooley.  Mrs. Toplack was born on the 23rd of December, 1925 in Sidney, Australia.  She was the 2nd of 3 children born to Norman and Frances Schooley.  She had an older brother named John Schooley and a younger sister named Patricia Schooley.   Mrs. Toplack was studying languages at Brescia College in London when she met her husband.

Dr. and Mrs. Toplack had 5 children; Stephen, Paul, Andrew, Christina and Peter.

In 1952, Dr. Toplack took a position as a pathologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Public General Hospital in Chatham, Ontario.  The family moved to 43 Victoria Ave., in Chatham and lived there for 2 years, before moving to 345 Victoria Ave.  Dr. Toplack became the Chief Pathologist for both hospitals.

Mrs. Toplack was an accomplished artist and devoted her time to her family and to the Thames Valley Art Gallery, the Ladies Assisting Society at the Public General Hospital (Chatham) and to Blessed Sacrament Church.

Dr. Toplack enjoyed collecting vintage wines, tropical fish, stamp collecting and hiking.  Over a period of a few summers, he hiked the Bruce Trail from end to end.

Dr. Toplack retired from being a pathologist, in the Spring of 1976 and Dr. and Mrs. Toplack moved to Dundas, Ontario.

Dr. Toplack died on the 1st of December, 1991.

His children all completed university degrees.  Stephen has retired but was a teacher and a researcher in Hamilton, Ontario.  Paul lives in London, Ontario and has retired from Medical Social Work.   Andrew is a medical doctor, who has a private practice in Toronto.  Christina is a medical doctor who specializes in Women’s Health in Nova Scotia.  Peter worked in medical surgical sales, but sadly he has passed away.

Mrs. Toplack died in Dundas on the 21st of December, 2014.

*Below Dr. Toplack and Dr. Ralph Keevil consult in 1963.  Dr. Ralph Keevil is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.