440 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 80 PART 3 MAY 2022
the hiking trails, as part of the dance team doing the old soft shoe revue in
Purple Patches at Western or on the dance floor with Pat. Even walking to
his office, he was one of the fastest walkers in town, a fact noted by a few
local lawyers in their kind comments on seeing the obituary.
His interest in learning went beyond his formal education and the
“lessons in the law”. Nothing was better than those summer holidays travelling
across British Columbia visiting fish hatcheries, smelters and museums,
or cross-Canada train trips where he would pick up a newspaper at
every stop to read about what was going on.
Listening was part of his learning: he was a great conversationalist with
anyone, anywhere and of any age. Gerry was interested in the lives of others
and took great pleasure in hearing their stories. When travelling and
where there was any shopping involved, Gerry could be found checking out
the interesting sights and the local fare. He could be found chatting with
people, reading the local newspaper or happily whistling.
Inspired by her father’s love of being a lawyer and enjoying a happy life
as one, Sara attended UVic Law and pursued a varied career including prosecutorial
and personal injury defence work and, finally, wills and estates.
Always searching for the right fit, she found it within the charitable sector,
first with the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and more recently with the
Victoria Foundation. The observations of a young daughter seeing her parents
engage with interesting clients, and with the community, were strong
lessons now carried through to this work within the community, with gratitude
for the example set over the years.
Gerry passed away peacefully on September 20, 2021 and is dearly
missed by his loving wife Patricia and their daughter Sara, his brother Stewart,
nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Sara Neely, with Paul Scambler, Q.C.