Gerard Francis Xavier Matte

Gerry Matte, 74, passed away peacefully in Nanaimo B.C., in the care of his children and closest friends. Gerry was the first born child to Art and Madeliene (nee Girard) Matte in Estevan, Saskatchewan. In his 30 years of marriage to Catherine Gowans (nee Haynes), Gerry lived in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Victoria, B.C. before he retired to Nanaimo. Gerry joyfully embraced fatherhood, especially in the early years. He is survived by his three children: Nicholas (Brian), Jennifer (Colin), and Christine (Greg). In his later years, Gerry met and built a loving blended family with his partner Lise Ferland, who predeceased him in 2016. Gerry and Lise were hands-on, supportive and engaged grandparents together. Gerry cherished his role as Grandpa to so many, and his loss will be deeply felt in the lives of his grandchildren: Caleb (11) and Erika (8) (Jennifer and Colin) and Noelle (5) and Jude (1) (Christine and Greg).

Gerry is survived by his two sisters Michelle (Peter) Nicholson, Kathy (Brian) Cochran and his two brothers Dennis (Shirley) Matte, and Rick (Sherry) Matte. Gerry kept close track of the achievements and milestones of his many nieces and nephews, keeping a detailed collage of their lives on his fridge and keeping track of the names of every new spouse and child as the extended family grew. He made regular trips to Saskatchewan to keep those bonds alive. It brought him so much joy and closeness when Michelle, Peter and his niece Aimee moved to Victoria and he could have more of his family closer. He valued lifelong connections with his cousins as well, including Gordon, Jim and Ted Bruce and Bob Cuthbert. Travelling to Australia with Catherine to visit Bob and his wife Sherry in the late 1990s was a highlight of Gerry’s life and opened his eyes to the joy of international travel that would continue for the rest of his life.

Gerry had three degrees in chemistry, mathematics and teaching and he began his career teaching computer science in the early 1970s. He moved through many different professional IT roles before settling at the District of Saanich as the Manager of IT for 21 years. Gerry was passionate about the industry and was an enriching contributor to the Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA) from 1994 to 2010. Just before he retired in 2010, he was awarded the Peter Bennett Award, the highest honour in Canada for municipal IT leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to the municipal IT environment, as well as a lifetime membership to MISA BC. He made many friendships through his career that endured well into his retirement, including through active involvement in the MISA BC Alumni.

All who love Gerry will remember him with a book close at hand, usually science fiction. In his elementary school days, Gerry became a member of the Estevan Chess Club and defeated numerous adult members. Later he would teach both his brothers to play and pass this love onto his grandson Caleb. As much as Gerry could be very studious and serious, he knew the importance of quality time with family, making memories and injecting humour into life. He took great pleasure in planning and executing camping and fishing trips and took pride in the set up of his site to have every possible gadget or amenity one might need for the occasion. Gerry loved being on the water.

In his mid-life, Gerry began to travel internationally, often choosing to travel with one cherished friend or family member, building shared memories of destinations like Mexico, Thailand, India, Singapore, Denmark and the Caribbean. Through these travels, Gerry’s love of cooking grew, and he hosted many big celebrations where his expanding culinary creativity and his deep love of family togetherness would shine.

The family is grateful to all of Gerry’s local friends who visited him and softened the impact of his declining health on his quality of life this past year. The family wishes to thank Per and Joyce Kristensen and Neil and Ulla Duckworth in particular for such unwavering loyalty and support of Gerry throughout his life. The pain and suffering of his children has been eased at many junctures by your service and care for all of us. A gathering to honour Gerry’s life is being held in Nanaimo for friends and family on March 23 and details can be provided through the family to anyone who may wish to attend.