About Gerald Rose

“Bo” to his family, Gerry was born September 15 1944 in the mining town of Wabana, Bell Island Newfoundland. A bright student with a good grasp of mathematics and physics, he graduated from St. Boniface High School in 1961, joined the RCAF as an Officer Cadet, and became the first member of his family to attend University, graduating from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1964. After a high voltage electrical shock ended his aspirations to be an electrical engineer, he went on to obtain a Bachelor’s of Engineering (Summa cum Laude) in Industrial Engineering from the Nova Scotia Technical College in 1972, and a Master’s of Business Administration, with Distinction, from Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario in 1979. Over the course of 29 years in uniform, Major Rose served the RCAF and Canadian Forces from the Atlantic to the Pacific. While posted to RCAF Station Winnipeg in the 1960’s he met Linda Pike, the lovely young woman who became his wife in 1967. After several years at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa he was posted to CFB Comox in 1983. Like many service personnel before him, he fell in love with the natural beauty of the Comox Valley, and stayed on as a civilian auditor at 19 Wing Comox, for another 14 years after retiring from active duty in 1989. Gerry had many pursuits outside of military life. His natural setting was the outdoors, whether hunting deer and game birds, fishing in mountain lakes or the ocean, gardening, golfing, or “counting the cougars” in the patch of BC forest where he lived for many years after retiring from active duty. His intellectual life was just as rich. There is an indelible image of him, in rapt attention leaning over his chess board, assuredly driving his opponent into checkmate. He was a member of the 19 Wing Officer’s Mess for many years after retirement. He was “Bullseye Dick” at darts and billiards, and a formidable contract bridge player. He read widely, favouring science writers, and "hard" science fiction from the golden age of the 1960’s and 70’s. Gerry was known for his eerie luck, both good and bad. He had survived the electrocution that short-circuited his electrical engineering career (he loved bad puns and practical jokes), as well as two lightening strikes while hunting, and lost countless Russell Belt Knives. But he always did well on the lottery, seeming to win more often than he lost, including three big prizes. He was an accomplished cook, with a palate much broader than he could have imagined in his Bell Island childhood. However, despite the pasta and stirfries, he always made room at the table for traditional Newfoundland food, especially the salt cod and pork chops that fed his family every Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Above all though, Gerry lived for his large and loving family. The middle child of eleven, he is remembered as a kind brother to his younger brothers and sisters, and a kind uncle to the children of his older siblings. Even when his career kept him thousands of kilometres distant, he never failed to remember a birthday or anniversary. He was also a loving father of two, and faithful husband to Linda for over 44 years. He is predeceased by his father, Frederick James, his beloved mother Doris May (nee Morgan), and his older brother Clyde Melvin. He is survived by wife Linda; daughter Michelle Lynn Dropko (Michael) of Merville, BC; son Gregory Walter (Karima) of Ottawa, Ontario; grandchildren Daniyal, Natalya, and Raniya Rose; brothers and sisters Velma Marina Kitchen, Evelyn Emma Matitich, Frederick Clayton (Ursula), Iris Elsie Bowlby (William), Thomas William (Janet) all of Cambridge Ontario, Carol Morgan Skinner (Donald) of Aurora Ontario, Faye Elizabeth Schmidt (David) of Maryhill Ontario, Wade Raymond (Shirley) of Ottawa, Ontario, and Cheryl Heather Ercul (Frank) Loretto, Ontario, his dear sister-in-law Mildred Elizabeth Stephen of Winnipeg, and dozens of well-loved nieces and nephews, particularly Ms. Judy Kitchen of Cambridge. He will be sorely missed by all. A Memorial Service will be held at the Salvation Army Citadel in Cambridge Ontario, 2pm Sunday March 11, with a private internment to follow at Mount View Cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. Please consider a donation in his name to the British Columbia Lung Association. Thanks are due to Mrs. Faith Checkel, Dr. Stephen Matous, Dr. Sudhakar Dawadi, Dr. Pierre Nel and the nurses of Emergency Department, 1st Floor and 3rd Floor at St Joseph’s General Hospital, particularly Mary. Gerry’s last years were hard, with pitiless and progressive chronic illness robbing him of his independence. With tireless labour, dedication, and love Linda sustained him throughout his final trials. He could not have survived so long or so well without such a faithful companion. He has earned his peace, and now rests in the Lord’s arms. “Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings”