DONALD JOHN DEGROW

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DONALD JOHN DEGROW Born November 13, 1949 in Hamilton, Ontario. Died October 8, 2011 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Eldest son of John DeGrow and Jean (Tomlinson) DeGrow, formerly of Binbrook, Ontario. He is survived by his wife Mary, sons David and Colin, brother Gary (Barb) DeGrow and sister Carol (Ange) Crugnale. Don was involved in the visual arts for the whole of his working life. After taking a BA in Art History (1971) at McMaster University (where he met Mary), he worked at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the London Regional Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste Marie before moving to Winnipeg in 1979. He was Associate Curator - Extension Services at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and then Visual Arts Officer and Director of the Visual Art Bank at the Manitoba Arts Council. He was self-employed in the arts for a number of years, and then became the Visual Arts Consultant for the Province of Manitoba. He was a painter in watercolour, drew with skill, was a carver and worker in wood and in leather. He was a student (4th dan) and teacher of traditional Shotokan karate at Midwest and Earl Grey Dojos. He wrote articles on art and artists, guest-curated exhibitions at the WAG, assisted Mary in her business (Fine Art Paper Conservation) and worked with Tim Parynuick at Chicken Coop Productions. He believed very strongly in the art and artists of Manitoba and supported them to the best of his ability. Don loved his family and friends and was immensely proud of his boys and of his students. He loved to train, travel, watch movies, tell stories and drive his car (a Subaru WRX with modifications that could be heard for two city blocks.) He was a generous, kind and very, very funny man. He will be greatly missed. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, other staff and the students who were working on 4S, Victoria General Hospital during the last month. A memorial and celebration of Don's life will held at St. Peter's Anglican Church, 755 Elm Street (at Grant Avenue), Winnipeg, Manitoba at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2011. At a later date a service will be held at the Sinclairville United Church, Sinclairville, Ontario. NEIL BARDAL INC. FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 14, 2011