NES
NESBITT
NESDALE
NESDOLY
NESHIKIWE
NESKAS
NESS
NES o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-05-22 published
DE JEU,
Mary
E. (née
VERNOOY)
Peacefully at Woodstock General Hospital on Tuesday, May 20,
2008, Mary E. DE
JEU (née
VERNOOY) of Woodstock and formerly
of Innerkip, in her 67th year. Beloved wife of Ted for nearly
46 years. Loved mother of Linda (Carolyn) of Peterborough, Joe
(Kim) of Waterloo, Rob (Dana) of Innerkip, and Doug (Tammy) of
Waterloo. Loving Oma of Dawson, Jada, Nathan, Courtney, Isabella,
and Alexandria. Dear sister of Nick
VERNOOY
(Betty) of Innerkip,
Teresa VAN
NES
(Jack) of Stratford, Rev. Paul
VERNOOY of Scarborough,
John VERNOOY
(Mary) of Bright, Corrie
VINK (Bill) of Innerkip,
Bill VERNOOY
(Pat) of Fort Erie, Pete
VERNOOY (Linda) of Woodstock,
Betsy COLEMAN
(Terry) of Ingersoll, Joe
VERNOOY (Joze) of St. Pauls,
and Jim VERNOOY of Sweaburg. Dear sister-in-law of Piet DE
JEU
(Gertie) of Delaware, Columba
SNYDERS
(Tony) of Lambeth, Joe
DE JEU
(Isobel) of Dorchester, John DE
JEU (Marie) of Delaware,
Leo DE JEU
(Bernice) of London, Ernie DE
JEU (Jeanne) of Delaware,
Nellie BRADICA
(Sam) of Clinton, and Pauline
VAN
LEERZEM (Hank)
of Strathroy. Also lovingly remembered by her many nieces and
nephews. Predeceased by her parents John and Cornelia
VERNOOY,
sister Anne
VAN
GERWEN, sister-in-law Cora
VERNOOY, niece Julie
VERNOOY, brothers-in-law Harry
VAN
GERWEN,
Jacob DE
JEU, and
Ed WAMMES, and parents-in-law Johannes and Maria DE
JEU.
Mary
was an active Catholic Women's League member for 35 years, including
two terms as President, as well as a volunteer for Canadian Food
for Children, Meals on Wheels, Woodingford Lodge, Caressant Care,
and the Holy Trinity sewing group. She was an avid stamp collector
and loved to knit, crochet, play cards, travel, and especially
watch and cheer her grandchildren in their many activities. Friends
will be received at the Smith-LeRoy Funeral Home, 69 Wellington
Street North, Woodstock on Friday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. C.W.L. and
parish prayers on Friday evening at 6: 30 p.m. at the funeral
home. Funeral Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, 904 Dundas
Street, Woodstock on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 10: 30 a.m. Interment
at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Mary's wishes were in lieu of
flowers, memorial donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society
or to Canadian Food for Children. Smith-LeRoy, (519) 537-3611.
Personal condolences may be sent at www.smithleroy.com
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NESBITT o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2008-01-23 published
HICKS,
Lynda
Marlene (née
SMITH)
Of Family Tradition (May 15, 1950 to January 21, 2008)
It is with great sadness that the family of Lynda Marlene
HICKS
announces her passing on Monday, January 21, 2008. Lynda will
be dearly missed by her childhood sweetheart and beloved husband
of 42 years William John
HICKS of Southampton, She will be forever
remembered in the hearts of her daughters and their families:
Vicky-Lynne and her husband Grant
COOK of Owen Sound, Tammy Lee
and her husband David
CAMPBELL of Southampton, and Kimberly Ann
and her fiancé Billy
NESBITT of Hanover. Devoted and loving grandmother
to Kayla, Samantha, Lindsay, Tara, Chelsy, Carly, and Kailey,
as well as loving Step-Grandmother to Adrienne, Carter, Mykia,
Kristofer and Tasha. Great-grandmother to Keira. Lynda is predeceased
by her daughter Billie-Joe, her mother Nellie Margaret May
COOT
and her father Clifford John Edward
SMITH.
Lynda touched many
hearts during her time with us and she will be forever remembered
for her deep love of life, music and family. Friends and family
are invited to share their memories at the W. Kent Milroy Port
Elgin Chapel, 510 Mill Street, Port Elgin (Town of Saugeen Shores)
from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, January 24th. A celebration
of Lynda's life will take place in the chapel on Friday, January 25,
2008 at 11: 00 a.m. with the Rev. Gordon
WILLIAMS officiating.
Interment Southampton Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the
Bruce County Museum or the Owen Sound Big Brothers would be appreciated
as expressions of sympathy. Portrait and memorial online at www.milroyfuneralhomes.com
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NESBITT o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2008-04-11 published
PHILLIPS,
Dorreta
Georgina (née
KARN)
Of Chesley, passed away at Elgin Abbey, Chesley on Thursday,
April 10, 2008 in her 86th year. Beloved wife of the late Ivor C.
PHILLIPS. Dear mother of Dale and her husband Russ
WILCOX of
Waterloo, Bruce of Coldwater and Brian of Chesley. Loving grandmother
of Tanya, Sean, Amanda, Brinley, Evan, Carissa (Shawn) and Victoria.
Dear sister of Beatrice
HATTEN,
Lorraine
(Lionel)
NESBITT, Harold
(Violet) KARN,
Alvin
(Betty)
KARN, Dean (Betty)
KARN and Larry
(Ruth) KARN as well as sister-in-law of Bernice and Betty. Predeceased
by her brothers Gordon and Wilmer, sisters Luella
KUHL,
Alvena
KUHL and Viola
JACKSON and her parents, Harry and Elizabeth
(WEPPLER)
KARN.
Visitation will be held at Cameron Funeral Home, Chesley
on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral
service will be held on Monday, April 14, 2008 at Saint Mark's
Lutheran Church, Chesley at 2 p.m. Spring interment in Chesley
Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Saint Mark's Lutheran Church
or the charity of your choice would be appreciated as expressions
of sympathy. www.cameronfuneralhomes.com
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NESBITT o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-17 published
DUBYK,
Carole "
Kay" (née
LUSCOMBE)
Of Saint Thomas, passed away on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008, at the
Saint Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, in her 74th year. Beloved
wife of the late John
DUBYK
(May 24, 1996) and dearly loved mother
of Jo-Anne
DUBYK and her partner Jerry
BIRCH of Saint Thomas and
Mary-Anne and her husband Steve
MANSELL of Saint Thomas. Dear sister
of Dorothy
PROCTOR of Saint Thomas and the late Fred "Sparky"
LUSCOMBE
and Larry LUSCOMBE.
Loved grandmother of Hayley
NESBITT (Mike
HUMPHRIES) and John
NESBITT, Bobby
BURROWS Christie
IRWIN) and
Darren and Kelsey
MANSELL.
Loved great-grandmother of Hayden
BURROWS.
Sadly missed by a number of nieces and nephews. Kay
was born in Saint Thomas on July 12th, 1934, the daughter of the
late Fred and Mary
(GILLICK)
LUSCOMBE.
She worked at McDonald's.
A public memorial service to celebrate Kay's life will be held
on Friday, April 18th at 1: 00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home,
45 Elgin Street, Saint Thomas. Cremation has taken place. Visitation
Friday from 12: 00-1:00 p.m. Remembrances may be made to the Canadian
Cancer Society.
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NESBITT o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-19 published
ARN,
Willon
At Saint Thomas Elgin General Hospital on Friday, April 18, 2008.
Willon ARN of Aylmer in his 94th year. Loving husband of the
late Margaret
(COOPER)
ARN (2006.) Dear brother of Harold
ARN
and wife Margaret of Glencoe and Opal
NESBITT of Aylmer. He will
be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by a
sister Pearl
FARROW and a brother Keith
ARN.
Born in Simcoe on
November 22, 1914
son of the late Theadore and Catherine
ARN.
Friends may call at the H.A. Kebbel Funeral Home, Aylmer on Sunday
2-4 and 7-9 p.m. where the funeral service will be held on Monday,
April 21, 2008 at 1: 30 p.m. Interment, Aylmer Cemetery. Rev. Bryan
MORRIS, officiating. Donations to the Cancer Society, the Saint Thomas
Elgin General Hospital Palliative Care or the Aylmer Missionary
Church would be appreciated. Condolences can be made at kebbelfuneralhome.com
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NESBITT o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-01-02 published
BARCLAY,
Gladys
Margaret (née
DOLMAN)
Peacefully passed away on December 31, 2007 at York Central Hospital
at the age of 93. Gladys, beloved wife of the late James
BARCLAY.
Dear sister of Ruth
YOUNG
(James) and the late Inez
NESBITT (Kenneth)
and Claire
NESBITT
(Kenneth.) Cherished aunt of David
NESBITT
(Brenda,) Doug
NESBITT
(Donna) and Kathryn
MALONEY (John) and
great aunt of Jamie
NESBITT,
Tricia
NESBITT (Jamie
McGARRY,)
Keri MALONEY (Lance), Kenneth
NESBITT, and Ian
JONES. A special
thank you to the staff at Glynnwood Retirement Residence and
York Central Hospital especially the doctors and nurses on 4 north
and 3 west for their care of Gladys. A Memorial Service will
be held on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 2 p.m. with visitation
one hour prior at Forest Grove United Church (43 Forest Grove
Drive). As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to
the North York General Hospital Foundation, 4001 Leslie Street,
Toronto, Ontario, M2K
1E1. Condolences www.rskane.ca. R.S. Kane 416-221-1159
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NESBITT o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-01-26 published
WOOLACOTT,
Orville
M.
Passed away peacefully on January 22, 2008 in his 104th year.
He is predeceased by his wife
Alvera nee:
MARZOLF, his sisters
Mrs.
Vera
E.
NESBITT of Lindsay, Ontario, and Mrs. Verlie H.
MARK of Simcoe, Ontario, and his brothers Ernest and Fred. He
leaves behind many family and Friends. Friends may call at the
Morley Bedford Funeral Home (159 Eglinton Avenue West, 2 lights
west of Yonge), on Monday, January 28, 2008 between 5-8 p.m.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 in
the Chapel at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at the Eden Cemetery
in the spring. If desired, donations may be made to the charity
of your choice.
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NESDALE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-05-22 published
GORRIE,
Wayne▼
Allen▼
With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Wayne on
the nineteenth of May 2008. The adored and cherished husband
of Sue and dear and much loved father of Jason. Remembered with
love by step-mother Shirley of Sarnia, Aunts Vey
NESDALE
(Frank▼)
of Mississauga, Grace
COMPTON of Truro and many cousins in Ontario,
British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Most loved brother-in-law to
Annette WALKER
(Geoff.▼)
Adored▼ uncle to Mark
WALKER (Sally) and
Godfather▼ to Paul
WALKER
(Anya▼) and Sue's family in England.
Predeceased▼ by his mother Doris (née
RUDD) 1967, father Donald
(1995) and sister Carolyn (1967). Wayne was raised in Sarnia
and attended the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey
School of Business graduating in 1970. He enjoyed a successful
career in the footwear industry. The "Shoeman" will be sorely
missed by Friends, colleagues and business associates in Canada
and abroad. Wayne lived life to the fullest. His passion for
family, nature, and hockey complemented a successful career,
yet he always had time for those less fortunate. Wayne enriched
all of our lives with his intelligence, wit and guidance and
touched all with the warmth of his smile and his caring personality.
Friends may call at the Turner and Porter Butler Chapel, 4933 Dundas
Street West, Etobicoke (between Islington and Kipling) on Sunday,
May 25 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass will be celebrated on Monday,
May 26 at 11 a.m. from Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 3055 Bloor
Street West (west of Royal York Rd.). Interment at a later date.
A lunch reception will follow at 1: 30 p.m. at Lambton Golf and
Country Club, 100 Scarlett Rd., Toronto. For those who wish,
donations may be made to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.turnerporter.ca.
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NESDALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-05-22 published
GORRIE,
Wayne▲
Allen▲
With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Wayne on
the nineteenth of May 2008. The adored and cherished husband
of Sue and dear and much loved father of Jason. Remembered with
love by step-mother Shirley of Sarnia, Aunts Vey
NESDALE
(Frank▲)
of Mississauga, Grace
COMPTON of Truro and many cousins in Ontario,
British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Most loved brother-in-law to
Annette WALKER
(Geoff.▲)
Adored▲ uncle to Mark
WALKER (Sally) and
Godfather▲ to Paul
WALKER
(Anya▲) and Sue's family in England.
Predeceased▲ by his mother Doris (née
RUDD) 1967, father Donald
(1995) and sister Carolyn (1967). Wayne was raised in Sarnia
and attended the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey
School of Business graduating in 1970. He enjoyed a successful
career in the footwear industry. The 'Shoeman' will be sorely
missed by Friends, colleagues and business associates in Canada
and abroad. Wayne lived life to the fullest. His passion for
family, nature, and hockey complemented a successful career,
yet he always had time for those less fortunate. Wayne enriched
all of our lives with his intelligence, wit and guidance and
touched all with the warmth of his smile and his caring personality.
Just watching the way you live your life has deeply affected
the way we try to live ours. There are so many things we have
learned from you and so much about you we love and admire. Not
only have you been a caring person but also a wonderful teacher
who has taught us some of life's most important lessons through
the beautiful example you give. You will live in our hearts forever.
The family is grateful to Sue's Air Canada family who has been
tremendously supportive. Friends may call at the Turner and Porter
Butler Chapel, 4933 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke (between Islington
and Kipling) on Sunday, May 25th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass will
be celebrated on Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11 a.m. from Our Lady
of Sorrows Church, 3055 Bloor Street West (west of Royal York
Rd.). Interment at a later date. A lunch reception will follow
at 1: 30 p.m. at Lambton Golf and Country Club, 100 Scarlett Rd.,
Toronto. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Tim
Horton Children's Foundation. Condolences to the family may be
made at www.turnerporter.ca
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NESDOLY o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-09 published
MASLO,
Anna▼
In her 94th year, passed away early on April 8, 2008 at University
Hospital with her family by her side. Beloved wife of the late
Onufry MASLO.
Ann▼ is lovingly remembered for her joy of life
by her daughters Iris
MASLO and Jan
STAPLES, and her precious
granddaughter Anna Lise
STAPLES, all of London. She will also
be fondly remembered by her sister Stella
EWANCHUK
(Walter▼) of
Saskatchewan and Rose
SCHMALTZ of British Columbia, and also
by her special nephew Nick
MASLO and his wife
Emily▼ of Winnipeg,
Manitoba. Ann was predeceased by her parents Michael and Henrietta
(JAWORSKY)
MARCINIAK, brothers Joseph, Walter and Raymond
MARCINIAK
and her sister Mary
NESDOLY, and son-in-law Harold
STAPLES.
Visitors▼
will be received at the O'Neil Funeral Home, 350 William Street,
with Funeral Mass at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church,
times and dates to be announced in Thursday's paper. Private
interment in Thunder Bay.
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NESDOLY o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-10 published
MASLO,
Ann▲ (née
MARCINIAK)
In her 94th year, passed away early on April 8, 2008 at University
Hospital with her family by her side. Beloved wife of the late
Onufry MASLO.
Ann▲ is lovingly remembered for her joy of life
by her daughters Iris
MASLO and Jan
STAPLES, and her precious
granddaughter Anna Lise
STAPLES, all of London. She will also
be fondly remembered by her sister Stella
EWANCHUK
(Walter▲) of
Saskatchewan and Rose
SCHMALTZ of British Columbia, and also
by her special nephew Nick
MASLO and his wife
Emily▲ of Winnipeg,
Manitoba. Ann was predeceased by her parents Michael and Henrietta
(JAWORSKY)
MARCINIAK, brothers Joseph, Walter and Raymond
MARCINIAK
and her sister Mary
NESDOLY, and son-in-law Harold
STAPLES.
Visitors▲
will be received at the O'Neil Funeral Home, 350 William Street,
on Thursday from 2: 00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass
will be celebrated on Friday at 10: 30 a.m. in Christ the King
Ukrainian Catholic church, 707 Nelson St. Private interment in
Thunder Bay. Panachyda Thursday at 6: 00 p.m.
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NESHIKIWE o@ca.on.manitoulin.howland.little_current.manitoulin_expositor 2008-06-11 published
Vincent Joseph
LAVALLEE
In loving memory of Vincent Joseph
LAVALLEE, 66 years, Saturday, May 3, 2008 at the
Manitoulin Health Centre, Little Current. Former husband of Elizabeth
NESHIKIWE.
Loving father of David (Valerie,) Mingo (Bonnie Jo,) Jackie (Darren
SHAWANDA,)
Monica BISHOP, Mary Elizabeth (Chris), Martina
DEBASSIGE and
Sonia (Tim
PANGOWISH.) Cherished grandfather of 20 grandchildren. Dear son of David
and Julia LAVALLEE predeceased. Dear brother of Joseph
LAVALLEE (wife
Rozina,)
Mary LAVALLEE and Archie
FRANCIS predeceased, Sylvester
OSAWABINE,
Thaddeus
LAVALLEE (Bonnie,)
Thomas WEMIGWANS
(Elizabeth,)
Wilfred
WEMIGWANS (Evelyn,)
Veronica WEMIGWANS (Wendy), Rose
BEAUPRE (Ron), Henry
WEMIGWANS (Corrine).
Dear Godfather to Jacob and Patrick. Sadly missed by many loving nieces and
nephews and their families. Vincent was a kind, caring and humorous person. He was a
hard worker. He had volunteered his time and money to help out fundraising for
Our Lady of Grace Church and the South Bay Community Centre. He will be missed
for his generosity and helpfulness. Miigwheech to all Family and Friends with your
kind words, prayers and helpfulness during our time of sorrow. Thank you to the
doctors and nurses for all you did for Vincent. Miigwheech to Wikwemikong Health
Centre staff and Amikook staff. Personal Support workers and Meals On Wheels and
drivers who helped us care for Vincent in our home for the past 2 ½ years. And
finally thank you to Wikwemikong Housing for all your assistance.
Respectfully,
David,
Valerie, David Junior Kaith-Lynn and Curtis
LAVALLEE.
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NESKAS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-05-14 published
NESKAS,
Ruth▼
In loving memory of Ruth
NESKAS who left us many away ago. You're
not forgotten Mother, dear, Nor ever shall you be; As long as
life and memory last We shall remember thee. Always remember
by Dawn, Bob, Sharon and Joan.
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NESKAS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-05-17 published
NESKAS,
Ruth▲
In loving memory of Ruth
NESKAS who left us many year ago. You're
not forgotten Mother, dear, Nor ever shall you be; As long as
life and memory last We shall remember thee. Always remembered
by Dawn, Bob, Sharon and Joan.
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NESS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-05-09 published
Air Canada skipper moonlighted as chief pilot of warplane museum
Fascinated by aviation even as a small boy, he paid for his own
flight training until he was qualified to join an airline. 'Pilots
like him come along two or three times in a generation'
By F.F. LANGAN,
Special to The Globe and Mail, Page S8
Toronto -- Peter
GUTOWSKI was a pilot all his adult life. He
flew everything from a Boeing 747 jumbo jet to a Corsair, a powerful
single-engine fighter from the Second World War. Although too
young to have flown against the Axis, he performed in hundreds
of air shows as chief pilot for the Canadian Warplane Heritage
Museum in Hamilton.
Indeed, his life was shaped by the war. Born in Poland in 1935,
his father [Michal Mieczyslaw Wojciech
GUTOWSKI] was an army
officer who managed to escape the massacre of the Polish officer
corps by the Soviets in the Katyn Forest in 1940.
Peter, along with his brother Marek and his mother Sophie, left
their family home and spent the war in Krakow. His father made
his way to Britain, where he joined remnants of Polish forces.
Four years later, he landed in Normandy with the 1st Polish Armoured
Division just after D-Day. By the time Germany surrendered in
May of 1945, he was a lieutenant-colonel commanding the 2nd Polish
Armoured Regiment.
With the war in Europe over, Peter, Marek and their mother Sophie
made their way first to Czechoslovakia, then Hungary, before
finally meeting up with Col.
GUTOWSKI in Germany.
The family moved first to England, then to Canada in 1948. Col.
GUTOWSKI, a cavalry officer who won a silver medal in the 1936
Olympics, had been invited to train the Canadian army equestrian
team. After that was disbanded, he spent many years instructing
at the Caledon Riding and Hunt Club near Toronto. He also trained
the Canadian Olympic team from 1948 to 1955.
Apart from his father, there was another war hero in Peter
GUTOWSKI's
life. His uncle Zbyszek
GUTOWSKI, who still lives in Montreal,
was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during the war. He
was captured and sent to Stalag Luft III, a prisoner of war
camp that became famous in March, 1944, for the Great Escape,
a bid to flee by dozens of prisoners. Although he never escaped,
Uncle Zbyszek's tales of flying likely convinced young Peter
GUTOWSKI to take up aviation. Even as a small boy, he was in
love with the notion of flight; he filled his school notebooks
with doodles of aircraft.
Peter GUTOWSKI spent his teenaged years on the outskirts of Toronto.
He graduated from a high school in suburban Richmond Hill and
then worked as an installer for Bell Canada. For a time, he shared
an apartment with a young German immigrant whose father had been
a pilot in the Luftwaffe. The two men became lifelong Friends.
While working for Bell, Mr.
GUTOWSKI put himself through flight
training at Toronto Island Airport. He got his private licence
at 19 and started accumulating hours and qualifications required
for a commercial licence. His first job in aviation was as a
co-pilot with Trans-Canada Airlines, as Air Canada was then called,
when he was 21.
"It was October of 1957 [and] we were in the last class to train
on the DC-3," said Jack
DESMARAIS, a fellow pilot at Air Canada.
"And he finished on the 747-400 in 1995."
At Trans-Canada Airlines, he was so devoted to his job that when
he proposed to his wife, Peggy, in 1960, she remembered him warning
that flying was very important in his life.
"He told me 'You'll always come second to my flying,' " she laughed.
"All that really meant was that if there was a phone call during
dinner that had to do with flying, we would have to wait until
he came back."
In 1967, the year he turned 31, Mr.
GUTOWSKI was promoted to
captain. Although his regular job was as a senior pilot for Air
Canada, he loved flying so much that he decided to join the volunteers
at the Warplane Heritage Museum. The group restores and flies
such famous Second World War aircraft as the Lancaster bomber,
the Mitchell B-25 and the Spitfire.
George STEWARD/STEWART/STUART, one of the first members of the group, remembers
when Mr. GUTOWSKI approached the other pilots. "He was immaculately
dressed in clean white running shoes, a leather jacket and gloves.
He came up and said he'd like to fly the Chipmunk [a small trainer]
and said he'd be pleased to pay for its operating costs."
Within a few years, he was the chief pilot. The others respected
his skill. His training as a commercial pilot meant he insisted
the pilots flying the old warplanes be prepared for any eventualities
and avoid taking chances that might endanger their lives.
"He believed in showing off the airplane, not the pilot. In his
Corsair, he would fly low and fast over the field but never do
aerobatics," Mr.
STEWARD/STEWART/STUART said. "His concern for safety probably
saved a lot of our lives."
In more than three decades of flying, Canadian Warplane Heritage
has lost only one pilot, Alan
NESS - one of the founders of the
group - who crashed a Fairey Firefly at the Canadian National
Exhibition
Air show in 1977. Peter
GUTOWSKI was in the air at
the time in a B-25.
"We saw the plane go in and for five minutes, I didn't know whether
or not it was Peter," said Peggy
GUTOWSKI. "We were discussing
just last month how, over the years, 32 of his Friends had died
in air shows."
His family travelled to many shows, and his wife went up with
him in more than one of his "war birds," as the pilots call their
vintage aircraft. The air shows were usually in Hamilton or Toronto
but could be as far afield as Texas or the Rickenbacker Airfield
in Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. GUTOWSKI's mainstay at the air shows was the Chance Vought
Corsair, a carrier-launched fighter capable of speeds in excess
of 700 kilometres an hour. Although U.S.-built, it was also used
extensively by the Royal Navy. One of them was flown by Canadian
lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray in the closing days of the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for an heroic
attack on a Japanese destroyer, and the museum chose to name
its Corsair after him. Although a favourite with the crowds,
it was sold several years ago to an American collector for about
$1-million.
After 38 years at Air Canada, Mr.
GUTOWSKI was forced to retire
at 60. He immediately landed a job flying a Cessna Citation,
a small jet, for Roblin Enterprises. "Peter was so keen to fly.
As soon as you called him, he'd answer, 'Where am I going?' If
you needed him, he was always available," said Micheline
BOCOCK,
the dispatcher whose husband owned Roblin Enterprises.
Mr. GUTOWSKI flew corporate jets all over North America for 11 years.
One of the principal customers was Magna, the maker of auto parts
based in Aurora, Ontario
He retired after he was diagnosed with cancer, but continued
to fly for the Warplane Heritage Museum, and took to the skies
last fall while his disease was in remission.
In 53 years of flying, he logged 30,000 hours in the air. That's
1,250 days - nearly 3½ years. In that time, he flew eight different
types of aircraft for Trans-Canada Airlines and Air Canada: Douglas DC-3
Viscount; Vanguard; DC-8; DC-9; Boeing 727; 767 and two types
of 747. At air shows, he flew the Chipmunk, Tiger Moth, Anson,
Harvard, Corsair, B-25 and Invader.
All this without an accident, although he did experience what
pilots call "incidents."
"He had some emergencies - who hasn't? Even when he had problems,
he always managed to get it down," Mr.
DESMARAIS said. "Pilots
like him come along two or three times in a generation. He was
a natural. You either have it or you don't, and he had it."
Peter GUTOWSKI was born November 17, 1935, in Leszno, Poland.
He died of cancer at home in Toronto on March 31, 2008. He was
72. He is survived by wife Peggy and daughter Michele.
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