Gerald Richardson

Gerald Richardson (Gerry) January 22, 1934 - November 15, 2024

On November 15th the Richardson family of South Pender Island lost a beloved and caring husband, father and grandfather, Gerald (Gerry) Richardson, who passed away in Saanich Hospital Palliative Care of congestive heart failure. Many fond memories are held by Ann, his wife of 64 years, his children Nigel and Cindy and their spouses and his grandchildren. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments.

He was predeceased by an older brother, Jack, who was trained as a RAF bomber pilot in Bowden, Alberta and had a career as a commercial pilot in England. His sister, Daphne, served in a Women’s Corp during the war, followed by an offer as a telephone operator in New Zealand where she met and married a sheep farmer and raised three children there. Both siblings also lived long lives into their late 80’s and early 90s.

Gerry was born in London, England. As a child he was evacuated to a coal mining village in Wales during WWII. He had many war stories for his grandchildren, collecting shrapnel with other boys in the neighbourhood, surviving a bombing in London when all the surrounding buildings were demolished and being the family member to line up with the family’s ration books at all the local shops where he developed a strong lasting aversion to lining up for anything.

He served his mandatory two-year military service in England, in the Payroll Department of his regiment. This led to his career in the computer world. His first job was with Canadian Pacific Railroad Stocks and Shares Registry Office in Picadilly Circus in London, documenting all the funding that originated in London to build and expand the railways in Canada. In 1956 CPR offered an opportunity to employees to emigrate to Canada. Gerry sailed off to Montreal and started his new job in Windsor Station CPR head office in the first large commercial computer installation in Canada.

In Montreal he met Ann and in July,1960 they travelled back to the Estey homestead in Wicklow, New Brunswick to be married. Their first home was an apartment in Montreal West but they decided after two years to see more of Canada so settled next in Calgary. After three years Gerry drove to Vancouver to secure a better job with Kelly-Douglas/Super-Valu food retailer/wholesaler company in their computer section. Ann followed him out and they settled in a Kitsilano apartment where they quickly fell in love with B.C. And the West Coast. Ultimately, they settled in Coquitlam where they resided for nearly 25 years.

During those years Gerry had a deep interest and involvement in many levels of government serving as Riding Chair for a prominent politician who became Premier of B.C. during his tenure. Gerry also ran for Alderman in Coquitlam. This public service was a joint affair involving the whole family including Ann managing a contentious recount while serving as Returning Officer in the Coquitlam riding where the Premier ultimately lost his riding by just a handful of votes! In the mid 1970s they discovered Pender Island, built a retirement home and moved in 1990 after Gerry retired at 56 years old. He then volunteered in many Pender groups with dedicated people - Pender Islands Recycling, South Pender Fire Dept., CRD Harbours Commission, Pender Islands Museum and Pender Island Yacht Club. Any obligation he took on, he was fully committed to.

Gerry was introduced to sailing and bought a small sailboat, Fairwind, which opened a whole new world which he loved. Sailing trips became the focal point of family holidays for grandchildren, Chloe, Erica and Liam and granddaughters, Emily and Sarah who live in Germany but came to Pender every summer.

Gerry and Ann have a wonderful circle of friends on Pender Island who have been supportive and kind. He was blessed to be able to live on a peaceful island surrounded by close friends to his final days. He will be truly missed by his wife of 64 years and his surviving family and by all those that knew this kind-hearted, community minded, engaging and spirited husband, father, and grandfather.