Died peacefully in his sleep on January 17, 2020 at the Garry J. Armstrong in Ottawa. He braved the losses associated with Alzheimer’s without complaint and was content in his final years .
Beloved husband of Sylvia Gazsi Gill, adored father of Alexandra Rockingham Gill (Michael Helm) and Peter Gill (Rhonda), and esteemed stepfather of David John Gazsi (Vicki Carlan). Much loved brother of Diana Kirkwood and David Gill. Dear “Gilly” to his grandchildren, Sydney, Willem, Archer and Ollie, and cherished uncle to his nephews, nieces and cousins in the extended Gill/Kirkwood clan.
John was born in Ottawa to Vera Melissa Birkett and Henry Robert Thistle Gill. Irrepressibly inventive, he was a great raconteur of the many adventures of his life. His years at Ashbury College were relived with gusto at the Old Boy’s football game in which he played until the age of 60, and his education at Carleton University was cut short by his determination to realize his boyhood dream of flying.
He was a bushpilot in the Maritimes and a pilot for Laurentian Air before becoming an insurance agent for London Life and settling into his first marriage, to Audrey Rockingham, and raising a family. When he retired from London Life, some 40 years later, his integrity, passionate concern for his clients, and community involvement were recognized by the firm’s inauguration of the John H. Gill Award of Excellence. In his early 40s, John took up flying again, this time as an aerobatic pilot. In June 1988, he crashed his prototype Acro-Zenith when a new prop flew off 4000' over a field east of Gatineau. He drove himself to the ER on his motorcycle where it was determined he had nothing more than a small cut on his ear.
His second marriage, to Sylvia Gazsi in 1987, brought tremendous happiness into his life and set the tone for 32 years of travel, hijinx and adventure, a shared life full of music and laughter. The cottage Sylvia and John built at Gull Lake alongside his siblings, was the happy gathering place of family, with nights of wine, bridge and storytelling, treacherous backcountry skiis, and in summer, G&Ts on the dock and ungainly half-gainers off the diving rock.
John was an amateur photographer with exceptional intuition; a skier of tremendous (and perhaps occasionally foolhardy!) daring, a lifetime member of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, a fixer of machines of all kinds, a bridge player with a bidding style unmatched in its bravado, a punner and writer of dogerel second-to-none, a wonderful piano player who could not read a single note but had a distinctive touch with gorgeous warmth and swing. Above all John was a good, generous, kind, funny, loyal husband, father, brother and friend.
The family would like to thank the special people who enriched his last years, especially at the Perley Day Program (Carefor) and the 5th floor at GJA.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2020 from 2-4 p.m. at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank. Arrangements entrusted to Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services. (613-741-9530) Condolences and funny or heartfelt memories can be shared at www.beechwoodottawa.ca.
Digital Guestbook
Erica Miskiman-Beaton
wkeithscott
Hi Again: The 'GILL Family', It just 'occurred to me', after I Rx., the earlier 'comment herein' about the/my link bet... John/Peter. It just 'all came back to me', this.....I recall, John the Father here - as he was I see now a 'bush pilot'. We met, summer 1966, on return from chiropractic college student, my friend Bud Keenan told me about HIM, as Bud & I did serious Scuba Diving salvage, thru the Ottawa Police Dept. The, act... gave John Gill...my name/phone #, at the |Plant Bath Pool/Place.
For several times, he 'lost the 'pilot left door, push'd 'it away accidently', on landing-whatever....to the bottom of the lake/river-usually in deep murky water, not w/o some risk, not retrievable....wherever.
He ask'd, 'if I cld. assist HIM', in retrieving it for Him, as it was a waste, & expensive....we met, & sure enough 'I got it, dived', there below the Parliament Bldg's, on the fast Ottawa river, BELOW-within site of the PARLIAMENT BLDG'S. HIS PLANE DOCK'G SITE, A 'BEAVER -FLOAT PLANE', HE USED to bring supplies for QC forest fire personnel. We then flew north into a Quebec small lake to retrieve another one for Him, so it was a good day for John, & my reputation.
My friend's the Tommy Brother's, new Him well, from on the ski team, at Lisgar Collegiate, for awhile of that earlier era.
I honestly did NOT link the two - until I re-read this Obit, a couple of times, sooooo they were both good skier's, father - son.
We touch'd each other's LIFE.
IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY. Oh yes & I recall, John, nicely taking me to 'dinner' at the family Rosedale big Home, that 'very evening', where his parent's briefly entertained us both, I recall that hospitality, a student's - precedent, learned forever.
Well; I successfully retrieved it for HIM, at, def... 'NO COST', for he was such a 'nice guy', we went on to locate another plane door, up North in Quebec, a small lake, where he had earlier in the 'fire-season', lost it as well.
It was a wonderful Obit, a chap similar 'age to me', indeed 'we had something big time', in common...I help'd Him, Peter Help'd ME, in a time of need.
That is/was so typical, of the Ottawa people, of that 'era', I presume it still exist's, big time.
God work's in mysterious way's, often w/o our even knowing 'about it', a fine example herein.
Thank You, for your patience, with me. k + [wkeithscott]
wkeithscott, west-ender-skier, [1936]-Ottawa
JHG-Oh my 'we never met', but I'd had bought a Life 55 from you, for sure, skier huh, passed you there---old Ashbury Guy, you mad 'the depression', I just missed it.
But, seriously....for decades ….I've 'wondered soooo many x's, where/whom....Peter Gill, went/was & so on!
Your 'son' didn't save my live, 'no prop lost', but honestly, he 'DID ME', A Bigtime favor', 1969'.
He picked me off, PEEWEE...imagine HILL, Camp Fortune, a really big good looking kid, empathetic lad, very helpful, as I had just broken my left ankle, 'a Pott's fracture', laying there immobilized, all 6'2", he even bigger.....carried me downhill, put me in the rear seat, & 'safely/assuredly', dlvd. me to Civic Hosp. emergency, all the time wondering 'about my brand new RED Pontiac, with 'SWIFT Canadian Decal's on it'.
He deposited me there, with cast et al, I got home ok.
But; how he 'got around', to get back to the 'Gatineau', etc etc, I still DNK, he did it et al, with such aplomb.
I thought he was a raconteur or doctor, but I in that stress, thank him, not enough.
Now; I can see...how he got such an early start on character bldg., a chip off the old block.
I even a 'ski patroller' for year's, did see a lot of potential in Peter Guy, but we never met again.
SO; in RIP...we older skier's, new well of the joy's of life, Thank You - John Henry - instead.
Now; of North York, still XCross Ctry. ski, Paradise Valley next. Thanx a lot eh.... Good Day - Sir's! k + WKS - wkeithscott
George Pearson
Knew John but not as well as I would have liked,he seemed a fine man and had a great joy of life with much humour liberally sprinkled throughout. My deepest sympathy to Sylvia ,she loved him so much and was his soul mate for many years........
Jay Hunt
John was a long time flying partner and true friend. We shared many thrilling adventures together, lots were pure fun, many challenging, and a few downright terrifying moments, none more than when our beloved Super Acro Zenith came apart and he was almost killed. I will always remember John for the ways he enriched my life. My sincere condolences to Sylvia, Alex and Peter.
Fran Pearl
Dear Diana and Sylvia,
An hour or two before Paul and I left for travels I leaned about your shared loss. All I knew about John was that he was not well. After reading about him and his life story I know I would have loved to have known him personally.
My heart goes out to you both with deep sympathy in this sad time.
Fran Pearl
My deepest condolences to you Sylvia, Diana, David, and the entire family. What a remarkable life led by a remarkable human being. He is a LEGEND here in the Day Program (people still ask about him and his G & T's) at Guest House and with anyone who had the great pleasure of meeting him. My heart and prayers go out to you all, and hope that you find some comfort in the amazing memories that remain.