Obituary of Gerald BETHELL

GERALD W. BETHELL Gerald (Gerry) Bethell of Kingston and Prince Edward County died at home surrounded by his loving family on April 1, 2016. Born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, he spent many idyllic summers at their beloved cottage at Carlisle Lake. After graduating from the Royal Military College and the University of Saskatchewan, he served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, and met his wife Vivian while stationed at Camp Gagetown. Following his military service he worked as the editor of business publications in Toronto and Regina, where his first son, Richard, was born, and then joined the Federal Public Service where he became advertising manager for the Canadian Office of Tourism. He later moved to Treasury Board and participated in the development of new privacy and access to information legislation. For several years he served as senior executive responsible for developing and administering government information policy in such areas as access to information, privacy, security and communications. During the early years in Ottawa, his second son, Steven, was born. He took an early retirement for health reasons and began writing fiction, a goal for many years. His book, Last Light, published in 2005 explored many subjects in which he took great interest - leadership, aging, politics, physical and spiritual renewal, mandatory retirement, to name only a few. Most of his book was written on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico where he and Vivian wintered and made many good friends. They also became members of an advisory council at the Gulf Coast State College, took many courses there and even taught a course on Canada to curious Americans. Daily swims were done even when locals were donning winter coats and hats. Retirement also took them to Prince Edward County where they purchased land on Lake Ontario and built a house designed to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Gerry's passions were his family, his career and his books. In his lifelong quest for knowledge and his curiosity about many diverse topics, he devoured and absorbed information on string theory, quantum physics, cosmology, politics, history, longevity, neuroscience and much more. He is survived by the family he adored and who will remember him with much love: his wife Vivian; sons Richard (Kelly) and Steven (Helene) and his grandchildren, Kyla Costello and Erin Bethell. Predeceased by a brother, Richard, and by an infant son. Arrangements for cremation have been made with the James Reid Funeral Home. Please consider a memorial donation to University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) in support of equipment at Kingston General Hospital. Donations may be made online at www.uhkf.ca or by calling the James Reid Funeral Home, 613-544-3411. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Royal Military College Senior Staff Mess, 9 Point Frederic Drive (https://sites.google.com/site/rmccssm/) on Saturday, April 16 from 2-4 p.m.