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Gerald DUNLEVIE Obituary

DUNLEVIE, Dr. Gerald Allan May 14, 1929, Regina - October 27, 2017, Toronto Gerald Dunlevie departed this life leaving no offspring, but hundreds of appreciative students whose education he inspired. Gerald was the elder son of Marguerite Genest and Allan Dunlevie. A very young Gerald became his widowed mother's chief emotional support and a role model for his younger brother Ian. His most prized possession was his classical education which, together with his devout faith and the philosophy of Winnie the Pooh, shaped his character and his attitude to life. His brilliant mind mastered the Greek and Latin he taught, plus French, some German and Spanish and his beloved Italian. An avid raconteur, Gerald would sprinkle his stories with strains of "je ne regrette rien" or memorized passages of the Iliad. A keen intellect, self-deprecating humour, flair for drama and his passion for sharing knowledge - all these combined to create in Gerald the superb teacher and mentor whose students even now remain admiring and devoted friends. In 1971, while teaching at Malvern Collegiate, Gerald had met the love of his life, Lucile Wakelin, herself a dedicated scholar and teacher. They married in 1988. As retirees, these two bons vivants enjoyed a rich cultural partnership involving PhD degrees for each, classical music, fine wines and cuisine, a magical garden and regular voyages to the iconic cultural destinations of Italy, France and Spain. Now, having slipped the surly bonds of Parkinson's to rejoin his beloved Lucile, Gerald leaves his Barrington cousins and Clarke in-laws. We will all treasure his memory with respect and great affection. We are grateful to the staff at Belmont House, to Glen, Marife and Angela, and to the dedicated and compassionate people at Toronto General Hospital and the Salvation Army's Toronto Grace Hospice. A memorial Mass will take place at St. Basil's Church, 50 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, on November 16th at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate generously to TGH or Toronto Grace in Gerald's name. Fluctuat nec mergitur

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Published by Toronto Star on Nov. 6, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
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7 Entries

Sandra Burk

November 19, 2017

Mr. Dunlevie was a quiet and kind vice-principal and man. His wife Lucile was my English teacher for three years at Malvern and was truly an inspiration. I will always remember this lovely couple. May they rest in peace.

November 10, 2017

All teachers hope to have some influence on the lives of their students. Mr Dunlevie was my teacher of both Latin and Greek at Oakwood Collegiate six decades ago, and his influence was deep and durable. Whether he was reading aloud to his class from the Latin translation of Winnie The Pooh (Winnie Ille Pooh), or was intoning (in Greek) famous lines of Homer (as are the generations of leaves, so are those of men), or sitting at his desk with his long legs stretched out in front of him as he read Proust (in French) or Lucretius (in Latin), or going over a passage from the Vulgate Latin translation of the Bible with a Jewish student, he always embodied the connection between learning and living. For me Mr Dunlevie transformed an aggregate of ablatives, subjunctives, and pluperfects into a key for trying to understand the world through its great cultures.
Soi charin fero. Ave atque vale!
Ernie Weinrib

james bawden

November 9, 2017

I remember him reading Winnie The pooh ion Latin and lasughing totall.A gt teacher-Jim Bawden.

Leslie Listro (nee Boyd)

November 8, 2017

As his only student of Greek in 1973 I remember Mr. Dunlevie with respect and admiration. To this day I benefit from the studies and skills that he shared.

Deborah Sutton

November 8, 2017

Sorry to hear of his passing. Was a great VP when I attended Malvern

Roger Mesley

November 8, 2017

A very civilized colleague when I tsught at Malvern c.1970. Quite patrician.

nicholas Colapinto

November 7, 2017

Great teacher. Witty guy. So many good memories.

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