Gordon Edmund Whitehead

WHITEHEAD, Gordon Edmund May 23, 1944 - July 6, 2022 In Loving Memory Gordon entered this world in New Westminster on May 23, 1944. He was born to Isabella (Hunter) and Norman Whitehead at Royal Columbian Hospital. Gordon was predeceased by his parents and brother James (1955). Surviving Gordon is his beloved and much cherished wife Jinny. He is also survived by his sister Norma Saunders (Bob) and their children Helen Gilbert (Rick), Steve Saunders, Edie Foster (Steve), Ruth Saunders and David Saunders (Kim); sister Ruth Whitehead (Dan Chies) and their children David and Michael (Dana). Gordon was a great and great, great uncle to many. He is also survived by Jinny's brothers Remy and Pierre Gobet and their families, as well as his many Hunter family cousins. Gordon was a true BC boy and lived in many small communities throughout the province. It was while attending high school in North Kamloops that he discovered drama, an interest that remained with him all his life. He moved to Vancouver to attend UBC, where he received his BA in 1967, majoring in English, History and Slavonic Studies. In the Fall of 1967 Gordon joined the Canadian Foreign Service. He had many postings: New Delhi (twice), London, Cologne, Warsaw and finally Lisbon, interspersed with stints in Ottawa. It was in the London office that he met the lovely young Jinny, who would become his life partner. After several years back in Ottawa, wanting to return to British Columbia, Gordon became Director, Immigration Policy for the BC government in 1991. Subsequently he was appointed to the Refugee and Immigration Board and moved back to Vancouver where he resided for the rest of his life. Gordon had many interests that he pursued throughout his life. He was a keen gardener, avid reader, sang in choirs, travelled extensively, enjoyed plays and operas, and in his younger days he canoed and cross country skied. After retirement Gordon became very involved with volunteering his time through the Patient Partners in Arthritis Programme and at Arthritis Research Canada, where he joined the Consumer Advisory Board. For Gordon's many dedicated volunteering efforts he was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal in 2012. Gordon left us in the early morning hours of July 6th of this year in palliative care at St. Paul's Hospital, on his own terms and in control. A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, November 9th between 1 - 3pm in the Floral Hall, VanDusen Gardens, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a memorial donation to: Arthritis Research Canada, #230, 2238 Yukon Street, Vancouver, BC V5Y 3P2, email: infoarthritisresearch.ca telephone: 604-207,0400 or 1,844-207,0400