It’s been nearly a year since we lost Gerry. I had to rely heavily on his Facebook contacts when I let people know the news.  I’m aware, reading these wonderful memories, that there were many that I couldn’t reach out to and I’m sorry.  Please feel free to email me if you would like to.

Kate  Pearson
wkgn@bigpond.com

Gerry, under the appropriate pseudonym “Rozenkrantz” was my dearest friend for many years in Yahoo’s Professors’ Chatroom.
We never met, but we corresponded sporadically with Emails and I sometimes sent him a few little treats for Yule. The news of his passing escaped me, but I suspected as much as I didn’t get any responses.
You all know what a wonderful, talented, warm and funny gentleman he was, and I do miss him “entering the room, jumping up to swing from the chandeliers and land clumsily in front of fransiska 7, grabbing her by the waist an waltzing across the room!”
His words; and he always made me laugh.
My deepest condolences to his loved ones.
Hanna/fransiska

I first met dear, lovely, wonderful Gerry at the Oxford Playhouse, Oxford, UK. He was the Deputy Stage Manager to my brand new no-nothing newbie Assistant SM. He was the best of teachers and my strongest support. We became the closest of friends and seeing him leave for Canada a few years later was a huge wrench. I stayed with him and dear John and was wrapped in their warmth and kindness and most generous hospitality.  I found Gerry again after having lost touch, just a couple of months after John passed, and we've been in touch ever since. A year's worth of treatment made me a bit slower than I should have been in wondering why I hadn't heard at Christmas. I'm just so sad to find out now my lovely friend has gone. He was kind and funny, very good at what he did, and was the best of friends. Dear Kate, I'm so sorry for your loss.

I grew up with Gerry and John, my cherished neighbours, at "the beach".  Fast forward many years and lifetimes later (2012 to be exact).  Newly moved to Front St, still feeling unsure, in this, my next chapter.  Sunday morning I'm walking in my new neighbourhood - a man and his dog are enjoying a coffee and a muffin on the patio of a local cafe.   
It was Gerry and Otis.    
How perfectly comforting to find my past and now present neighbour after all these years.  Since then, we have shared many lunches, martini's and even an adventure to visit John and beloved sandy shores.  
You are so missed.  But never forgotten.  
cheers xo

No theatre memories here, just waves and sand. Having grown up next to John and Gerry along with Pusso and Rufa at the beach, Gerry was often sitting on their deck reading. He always had a doodle going on a scrap of paper. I still hang my name ornament he made from tin pie plates each holiday. Other memories include homemade pesto, a red Jeep and papier-mâché puppets for clients at PEH. 
Thinking of you Kate. Thank you Jennifer for reconnecting the beach to Gerry in Toronto.

Dearest Gerry, you are already missed deeply by the entire Market Street Balzac’s staff. We all loved to see you every day. Your warmth and light always brightened up our day. You loved your large coffees with lots of milk and you always asked us to surprise you with our choice of muffin or cookie, which always made us giggle. You were always there, rain or shine or pandemic, and you always put a smile on all of our faces. We will always remember you as an honorary regular customer of our cafe and your presence will be missed so much. Rest In Peace Gerry! We love you! 

Dear Kate and Family,  I have many great memories of your Father! Tina and I would visit him for tea at his apartment and he would always treat us to muffins or pastries. We would talk for hours about everything and anything! Jane too visited with us. Gerry would speak with enthusiasm and flare his arms as he emphasized his points with powerful intonations of colourful words and phrases. He was a natural born actor! Yes, the world was his stage. He enjoyed sharing stories of his most memorable auditions and was animated with details.  He enjoyed cooking and having guests. I remember when he had a house party by the lake and invited  students.  He demonstrated the "proper" way to wash and prep a lettuce head. Smash it on the table! We all hit the roof! Then break off the leaves delicately. Oh, so proper!RIP Gerry. He will be greatly missed. Love, Rose.

I deliver for a Pharmacy in the neighborhood. Gerry was my first delivery one year ago. We had some good laughs and stories we shared from the old days. He always could put a smile on my face no matter what kind of a day I was having.  I really looked forward to seeing him when I was in the area. Won't be the same without him. God Bless 😇

Our community theatre group in Sault Ste Marie was touched by Gerry's magic.

(This is my second post.  The site lost my original post Nov. 30.)
Gerry, at Humber College  you were one of the first adults in my teenage life to fully support me in my desire to become an actor and to make me truly believe in myself.  You cast me as Polly Browne in The Boyfriend in my third year.  You weren't afraid to cast me in the lead  because you didn't care what mainstream ideas of what an ingenue was supposed to look like.   You felt I was right for the part and that was that.  It will be many years later when the rest of the world caught up with your progressive views.   Your passionate views on what was good and what wasn't.  Your thoughtful and engaging encouragement. So much encouragement!  Your great heartful laugh.  the kind that takes over your whole body and so infectious.  Your impeccable taste in design and food.  I remember calling you for some reason and asked you what I could do with mushrooms (the legal kind) and you quickly replied "Saute them in butter and serve them on mustard and toast."  You have encouraged so many and beloved by students, neighbours, fellow actors, producers, directors.... the list goes on.  I am so happy we got to know each other more when I lived in your neighbourhood for four months.  

I will remember and think of you this Thursday in your pink bowtie.  I will light a beautiful candle.  I will smile imagining you soaring to the highest heights with John and running with Otis and Ruffa and Puss in tow.   Love to you my teacher, confidante, mentor, friend.  I will miss you terribly. The one and only Gerry P. 

Gerry was my  source of inspiration to keep going. We were neighbors since he moved into Pal and when he lost John and suddenly had a walker he took all of my advice to adjust his walker and to start exercising. Gerry went to the gym every day to walk on the treadmill until the gym closed. He was always looking for conversations that inspired him. When I went through some things myself he was always there with a compliment or words to make my day better. 
 During the pandemic I would find reasons to check in on him (dropping off food) everyday until he called me on the fact that he knew what I was doing and he thanked me for it. Then encouraged me to keep doing artwork. He and I have had some crazy conversations over the years and they were all inspiring. I am heartbroken that we won't again. Gerry in your honor I am going to try and inspire others. And yes I'm going to keep up with the crazy artwork ❤️

Gerry’s passing has left the most enormous void in my life. His generosity and love was above and beyond. I will miss his voice, that laugh and his huge love for Georgia, Ned, Wal and I.  We will try to remember to live and love with the abandon that he always showed and to always be creative and observant. One thing I do know is that his spirit shot out of this world like a rocket and is on to the next big adventure. What a legacy he leaves.

Gerry will be remembered joyously and sadly missed.

I was a student of Gerry's (1977-80) in the Humber College Theatre Program.  Many of us have stayed in touch with him over the decades with pot-luck lunches on his Actra Pal Loge balcony, etc.  He was an amazing character, a dynamic and inspiring teacher with a most generous soul who gave encouragement and wisdom in abundance.   He lived a full and adventurous life, and now he is with John and their dear dog, Otis.  My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.  Thanks for the memories, Gerry!  You will be missed.

I first met Gerry and Otis at our neighbourhood dog park. 

I have fond memories of having him over for dinner and sharing many laughs. What a funny man he was. Loved his sense of humour. 

I will miss him dearly. 

Josée

Gerry was a brilliant actor, a superb stage manager, a gifted writer, and an admired teacher and mentor.
 We were fellow teachers for many years  with Theatre Ontario.  He toured with us as a stage manager. He graced our classes, our shows and our lives. He was witty and wise with a wonderful laugh and a generosity of spirit that knew no bounds. David Switzer and I will dearly miss him. Our deepest condolences to all his loved ones. 

I am so saddened to hear of Gerry's passing. I have had a huge fondness and admiration for him since we worked, lo those many years ago, at the Muskoka Festival. We kept in touch over the years and he remained always warm, always bright. I will miss knowing he's here but am happy knowing he's united with his dear John.

Gerry struck me as a modern day Oscar Wilde, a highly entertaining ascerbic wit.  
Maria, I know your salmon pasta, martoonis and creative collaborations brought great joy to his life.  May he rest in peace as you remember him fondly.
 
Elvira.
 

His great honking laugh, his love of martinis and his love of  baked goods.  My love of acting with him in "Mandragola" eons ago and when he left "The Bay" because of a temporary bout of leprosy. 
Love ya guy and will miss miss miss having you in my life. 
Liz

Dear Kate and Family, 
I was so saddened to hear about you dear Dad, I knew John and Gerry well when they lived on the beach and we rekindled our friendship on FB and Private Messages.
I so enjoyed his quick wit and love of the arts, we were to get together in Toronto when the pandemic was over for Martini's, I will have that martini and toast Gerry. A life well lived and he is soaring with John to somewhere exciting and fun.
Take good care and treasure your memories, hugs Melanie Saunders

Gerry was most loved here at PAL. He had the driest humour and could always make me chuckle. He noticed everything and always had a kind word for the ‘ladies’ around him. I’ll miss the possibility of running into him here or at our shared coffee place Balzac’s.  Rest well, dear man, and love to all his friends and family.

I was one of the lucky ones who experienced the passion of Gerry as a teacher, mentor and director (he directed my in The Boyfriend at Humber College 1980). He gave so much of himself and infused such a crazy energy into the room that made you want to be your best. He was kind, funny , smart and shared his artistic wisdom so graciously. He made such an impression on me as a young artist. Pure Magic! 
You will always be remembered.
“Fly with the angels”
Lorena 

So sad to hear of Gerry’s exit from this life. He taught me at Humber College in 1980-82 and I learned so very much from him. 
“Create, be ambitious, be daring” he once told me...I tried. My best memories of Gerry were watching him direct The Boyfriend, just hurtling around the theatre, exploding with energy. The man was infectious. 
We knew one another a brief time in the span of our lifetime, but I never forgot him. 
Thank my friend.
Find John, be at peace. 
Rest.

OBITUARY

Gerry Pearson

July 9, 1939 – November 26, 2020

Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel

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