Gordon Charles STRETCH

Gordon Stretch chose to end his life as he lived it, on his own terms, with a peaceful, medically assisted passing surrounded by his wife of 59 years and his three children. Gord lived well for more than a decade with Parkinson’s. He approached the disease in his characteristic way, with determination, discipline, and pragmatic optimism. He kept up a tireless regimen of exercise and therapy that afforded him an excellent quality of life until his final few months.

Gord was the first of three sons of Cecil Gordon Stretch and Edna (Kay) Stretch Cerveny of Ponoka, Alberta. A bright boy who wanted an education, Gord set out as a teenager for Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. From there he landed a position with IBM in 1961, just as the computer age was dawning. Gord would work for IBM nearly his entire career, mainly in Edmonton but with assignments as far afield as Houston and Trinidad.

Gordon met Patricia McLennan on a blind double date in 1961. Gord recalled being taken with the pretty nurse immediately, impressing her with his Mercury Turnpike Cruiser and his sense of humour. Gord and Pat married in 1965 and began a lifelong partnership built on values of family before work, openness to new ideas and experiences, and outdoor recreation. With Pat and other friends, Gord cycled, skied, camped, hiked, fished and canoed extensively. He was a loyal friend to many and an active community member.

As three children came along, Gord taught them outdoor skills and included them in his adventures. Having retired young, Gord pursued off-the-beaten track adventure. He and Pat cycled all the way across Canada. They kayaked the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii) and took a unique freighter trip up the sunshine coast. Another marine adventure took them into the northwest passage of the high arctic. Gord skied the Canadian Birkebeiner twice, an accomplishment for cross-country skiers that rivals a marathon for runners. He continued to ski, both downhill and cross-country, even after Parkinson’s started to rob him of his balance.

Gordon said that his philosophy in life was to walk softly on the earth and leave a clean campsite. He succeeded.

Gord is survived by his wife Patricia, his two brothers Brian (Jane) and Robert (Denese), his children Laurie (David Finch), Gordon (Tracy Imai), Heather (Lamont Leatherman), and his grandchildren Andrew and Thomas Finch, Peter and Kristen Stretch, and Jackson, Walker and Levi Leatherman.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Parkinson Canada at 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 316, Toronto, ON, M2P 2A9 or to St. Paul's Anglican Church, 10127 - 145 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T5N 2X6.

A funeral service will be held on October 30 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, with Rev. Dr. Myron Penner presiding. A reception will follow in the church hall.