Gordon Leslie Curtin died peacefully in the night on Friday April 30th, 2021 at the Broadmead Veterans Memorial Lodge. He was born on March 27th, 1924 in Montreal, Quebec. Gord is survived by his wife, Ruth and his sons, Ian(Colleen) and Peter(Bonnie); sister Shirley Renoe; grandchildren, Ariel, Brett, Devin and Winona; great-grandchildren, Beckett, Cian, Emmett, Landen, Mattigan, and Riley.
Ruth and Gord were married on Sept 30th, 1950 at the Dominion-Douglas United Church in Westmount. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year with a “Covid” Zoom call with the family. Gord served in World War II as a Gunnery Sergeant with the 3rd Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery and then completed a degree in Agriculture at McGill University in Montreal. He worked for various firms, most notably Union Carbide. Gord was selected as the only industry representative to participate in a year-long International Program at the Canadian Army Command and Staff College in Kingston, Ontario. This opportunity led to senior roles in the Canadian Government such as the Canadian Agricultural Marketing Board. Gord loved music and roses. He played both piano and the organ and was at one time the organist at Trinity Anglican Church in Ottawa. In later years he sang with the Victoria Arion Male Choir. His love of gardening and in particular roses was apparent in all the places he lived.
The immediate family will celebrate his life on Monday May 3rd, 2021 at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, and his remains will be placed at First Memorial Garden of Memories.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Victoria Arion Male Choir can be made at:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/victoria-arion-male-choir/
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Frank and Helen Gibson
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David and Carol Gibson Very sorry to hear of Gordon’s death. My mother was very fond of Gordon and her Canadian sisters (Gordon’s mother and Aunt) and their familys. Our thoughts are with you all.
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Katherine Kinch My condolences to the Curtin family. I’m glad I got to meet Gordon and share time together at a family dinner back while we were still allowed to do so. He seemed like a man who had experienced a lot in his life. My thoughts are with you all.
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Niko Kozobolidis Being a good friend of Ian, Gord’s son, in highschool, I learned much about them both as I grew up only a few blocks away. My tracks crossed and paralleled Ian’s and therefore Gord’s as well since then. They’re both a stubborn lot and they resisted each other’s guidance and kindnesses in the early years as so many sons and fathers do.
In later years, I found that they held each other’s hands in ways that few fathers and sons do. Ian vocal, up front and persistent in his being by his Dad’s side. Gord quiet in his obvious pleasure of being keep in the spotlight of his son’s busy life. And to my surprise Gord took a step, a leap that few people that I know do and less so of men and very rare for Gord’s era of man. He accepted the invitation to be in one of Ian’s personal development groups which for me was a way of saying I love who you are son and who you have become and I trust you with my heart. And he said as much in front of a group of strangers.
I don’t know Gord or very many men well, but I am very fond of him and I dare say I love the man for giving such of a gift of love and being so vulnerable in his intimacy when there was no need on his part. I don’t know if in their hand holding which one helped the other cross the threshold. In any good relationship that seems to be the case, that they cross together and the lead becomes indistinguishable of he who follows. And so it goes it seems, the dance of intimacy begins until we eventually circle as one, and in this crossing father and son held each other in their stubborn acceptance of each other.
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Vicky & John Kurylo It was with sadness that we learned of Gord’s passing and John and I would like to offer our condolences to the whole Curtin family. Gord was clearly very much loved will be missed. While it might have been a short visit, I am still grateful to have met him at least the once. May your loving memories bring you peace, comfort and strength.
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Penny Poapst My condolences to you all, on behalf of the Poapst family. I am so glad I was able to be part of your anniversary Zoom meeting and had a chance to see and speak with you all, especially Gord. The years have passed us by, but the memories and laughs are always with us. I will cherish those forever.
My prayers are with you at this time.
We are very sorry to hear of Gordon’s passing. We are so glad we had the chance to meet him on our last trip to Canada. It was also wonderful to take part in the Zoom call and hear such wonderful memories of him. Our thoughts are with all his family at this sad time.