GARTH HERBERT GISLASON

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GARTH HERBERT GISLASON September 23, 1928 - January 6, 2013 With grace, at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, January 6, with daughters Thora and Jo by his side. Born and raised in Winnipeg, where he attended Gordon Bell High School, Garth settled with his family in Victoria in 1968. His last three years were spent in Vancouver. Garth was an articulate, creative, witty, deeply curious, independent, and vibrant man. As editor and later Chief of Hansard at the BC Legislature, he deployed his formidable intelligence and integrity to oversee the production of the written (and later televised) record of the debates of the legislature. An accomplished singer, his resonant and expressive baritone voice was heard in Winnipeg, Toronto, the UK and Victoria, performing as soloist with choral groups and church choirs, in opera and musical comedy. He was an avid golfer who found a second home in the friendly environment of the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria. A voracious reader and keen learner, he believed firmly that our highest goals can be achieved through hard work and determination. Garth lived his life with profound curiosity and genuineness, endlessly fascinated by his fellow human beings and by the imponderables of life. His love of life found expression through singing, writing and wordplay (writing poems to his daughters), painting, cooking, gardening, golfing, and discussing the meaning of life. He will be remembered by the many of us who love him for his bear hugs, his intense gaze, playful punches, and hilarious and perceptive remarks. He is survived by daughters Thora and Jo, their partners Manny and Dirk, son Sam, former wife Val, grandsons Matthew and Jamie, sisters Margaret and Jean and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by parents Thorstein and Kristin and brothers Gordon, Wilmar, and Eric. A celebration of Garth's life will be held at the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. For those unable to attend, messages can be sent to: jgislason@carolinelaw.ca. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Victoria Conservatory of Music Voice Bursary Program.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 12, 2013