Gerald William "Gerry" Cole

1929 - 2022

Gerald (Gerry) William Cole passed away peacefully Saturday, January 29, 2022 at the age of 92, after a long battle with prostate cancer. He is predeceased by his only brother Bruce and his wife Marlene. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margo; son Matthew (Joanne); and grandsons Dillon (Marie) and Adrian (Adrianne); as well as two nephews, and two nieces and their families in Ontario.

Gerry was born in Hamilton, Ontario on May 18, 1929. After high school, he studied Institutional Management at the University of Toronto and enjoyed an adventurous first career with CPR Hotels. The hotel business was seasonal back then - he worked summers in Lake Louise and Banff, and winters at southern locations like Nassau, Bahamas; Syndey, Australia; and Palm Springs, USA. During his times at the Chateau Lake Louise and the Banff Springs Hotel, he enjoyed meeting celebrity guests such as Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney, Robert Mitchum, Alan Ladd, and more. It was while working at the Banff Springs Hotel that Gerry fell in love with fellow employee Australian Margo Lewis in 1957; they married in Banff in December 1958. Their only son Matthew was born in 1962.

Gerry's favourite mountain was Mt. Assiniboine. His first trip in was on horseback; his second on skis; his third with Margo on foot; and his fourth by helicopter with Matthew to celebrate his 80th birthday.

In 1975 Gerry returned to university (Cariboo College, UVIC) and became an elementary school teacher... his true calling! He spent the early part of this second career as a substitute teacher for many of the local Kamloops schools; but he also enjoyed longer-term contracts with schools in Louis Creek and Pinantan. He retired in 1994. Many students have great memories of their favourite teacher, Mr. Cole.

Gerry was most proud of his son Matthew. He loved his daughter-in-law Joanne and his grandsons, and that they all pursue the outdoor adventures and activities that he loved himself.

Gerry was a people-person - he genuinely liked people; and everyone liked Gerry. He was so well-loved by all his in-laws in Australia; as well as the many friends he made during his 55 years in Kamloops. He had a remarkable gift for remembering people's names and faces. He was a very kind-hearted man - a true "gentle"man. He was "one of the good guys" and will be deeply missed by many.


Happiness for Gerry was: his wife and family; reading (an avid reader!); hiking/curling/downhill skiing (all well into his eighties); fishing all the local lakes; singing in the Kamloops barbershop chorus; frequent trips to Mexico and Australia; tending his garden wherever he was; Friday meetings with his KALS pals; attending the Kamloops Probus Club; carpet bowling at Cottonwood; an A&W chocolate milkshake; happy hour at Chabelos in Chase; and he was always up for swapping stories with friends over beers while enjoying a good barbecue.

In the more recent years... as a nod back to his hotel days, Gerry loved filling in at the information desk at Cottonwood Manor, where he lived with Margo since 2018.

In Gerry's own words, "I had a good run!"

A private gathering will be planned for some time later this summer.

Special thanks to Dr. Franky Mah and Michelle; and the amazing ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Room nurses at Royal Inland Hospital.