Obituary of David Gerow

In the still of the night, Saturday, February 9, 2019, “Dave” passed away at the age of 71 in the Gatineau Hospital after a fight with lung cancer.  He was surrounded by the love of his two daughters and friends Tiina, Pat and Dani.

Born September 29, 1947 in Picton, Ontario, the only child of the late Margaret Raby (née Bellyou) and the late Norman Gerow. 

Chopping his own firewood until his diagnosis, and fondly referred to as a “human encyclopedia” by some who knew him well, Dave’s many talents included working with wood on all scales, gardening and oil painting. He was a deeply committed lover of nature who designed and built his octagonal, off-grid family home with trees he harvested from the land he husbanded on Calumet Island (l’Île du-Grand-Calumet), Quebec. 

Dave was a graduate of Algonquin College’s Electronics Technology program, a voracious reader and a music lover; he was also a sailor of tall ships on the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes as well as with his own little yellow “banana boat,” moored at Davidson, QC. In recent years, he enjoyed spending the winter in Mexico.

Beloved father of Elizabeth “Beth” Gerow (Felix Isiah) and Alison Gerow; grandfather of Carmelina, Dominik and Joel Lilla and Tetseek’eh Gerow Isiah. Survived by cousins Daryl, Gary and Carl Morden of Prince Edward County, Ontario and their families. Dave will also be sadly missed by dear friends Tiina and Pat Baumbach, Dale Shutt and Vidas Grigaliunas and family, Lynne Lavery (former wife and mother of his children), and other extended family and friends. A celebration of life will be held in the summer.

“Thank you, Dad. You have made us who we are, and it is impossible to fully express our gratitude for the gifts you have instilled in us: connection with the land; wonder for nature, fire, water, earth and air; self-sufficiency and many others. You have inspired us to continue growing our gardens and ourselves. Love and light pour upon you as you sail away to a more peaceful realm.”