Gerald Robert HEFFERNAN

GERALD ROBERT HEFFERNAN July 12, 1919 - July 28, 2023 Jerry was born in Edmonton, Alta. In 1923, he moved with his family to the wilds of B.C.'s Kootenay mountains. As a youth, Jerry helped keep his family afloat by packing supplies into mines, guiding hikers, fishing, cutting cordwood and tending a large market garden. After the untimely death of his father, a WWI veteran, the family moved to Vancouver where Jerry finished high school. He finally caught a break when his big city aunts Helen and Stella offered free boarding if he was accepted into the University of Toronto. Jerry graduated with a BASc (Metallurgical) from UofT in 1943. He missed his convocation when called to serve in the Canadian Corps of Engineers during WWII. Jerry often said that the best decision he ever made was to marry Geraldine O'Leary, the curly-headed bookworm he met on a blind date in Toronto. "The Gerries" had 75 happy years and eight children together before her death in 2018. Their shared pastimes included reading, skiing, and 18 holes of golf followed by a beer and an onion sandwich. Jerry had other rewarding adventures. Curious and intelligent with an entrepreneurial spirit, he built a career in the steel industry. In 1970 he cofounded Co-Steel International, a pioneer in the development of mini-mills in Canada, the US and UK. In 1985 he joined the board of CIFAR to provide guidance to the institute devoted to scientific research and, in 1987, became one of the founding board members of private equity firm Clairvest. In the early 2000s he channeled a passion for music inherited from his mother, a pianist, into fundraising efforts for the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto's first opera house. Always interested in new ideas, Jerry participated in funding several Canadian startups and, in his nineties, launched a post-graduate fellowship program at UofT to help bring engineering student inventions to market. In recognition of his achievements, Jerry was named Officer of the Order of Canada and inducted into both the Canadian Business and the Canadian Science & and Engineering Halls of Fame, among other honours. Jerry's energy, optimism and sense of fun made him a cherished father. We learned so much from him: the thrill of ocean swimming and schussing down wooded ski trails; the satisfaction of work and a job well done; the joy of music and dancing; the pleasure of good food and wine among family and friends; and an appreciation for the healing beauty of the wilderness. The family bonds grew strong at his beloved 'Claremont' northeast of Toronto where four generations would gather around a massive harvest table to tell stories and argue politics. If we helped him plant potatoes or pull weeds in his vegetable garden the next day, even better. As his own life grew quieter, he became our loudest cheerleader. At his 102nd birthday party he stood at the head of the table, turned an appreciative eye on all of us and said "I doubt you'd find a more intelligent, loveable and fun group of people together anywhere.' Jerry was predeceased by his sister Virginia, his brothers John and William, his wife Geraldine, his daughter Shelagh, his granddaughter Emma, his son-in-law Peter and his daughter-in-law Rolande. He leaves his children, Joe (Marie), Mary Clare, Mark, Helen, Tracy, Teresa and Virginia. Papa's love and guidance will be sorely missed by his seven grandchildren, Blake, Siobhan, Spencer, Madeleine, Yasch, Graham and Danaé and great-grandchildren, Soleil and Cillian. A special thank you to Jerry's dear colleague Michelle Lee and to Eunie Arevalo and her supportive team of caregivers, including Gladys, Lydia and Nancy for their compassion, diligence and devotion during Jerry's final years. Donations to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care in Jerry's name would be appreciated. There will be a family burial followed by a wake at a later date. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com. Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel 416-487-4523