Gordon CROSBY

CROSBY, Gordon Peacefully at the Sunnyside Home in Kitchener on January 3, 2019, at the age of 91. Beloved husband of Geraldine, his partner of nearly 70 years (deceased 2015). Loving father of Cameron (Peggy) and Gary Michael (deceased 1971). Gord was a proud grandfather of Michael (Alysia Kolentsis), Kate (Ben Martin) and Gary (Stacey). Great-grandfather to Lucia, Liam, Anna, Alexandra, Jacob, Emma and Kayla. Born in East York in 1927, Gord overcame early hardships to lead a remarkable life. He showed an early love for athletics and first competed at a world class level as Canada's 100m Hurdle Champion, then in the same event at the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand and later at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Later in life, Gord took up the sport of tennis and went on to become a nationally ranked Senior Tennis Player. A long-time member of both the Northfield Racquet Club and the Waterloo Tennis Club, Gord also represented Canada at various International Senior Team Tennis Tournaments. Well into his eighties, Gord maintained the rigorous workout schedule of an athlete decades younger. Starting from very humble roots, Gord was the exemplary self-made individual. While his formal education ended when he was fifteen, he had an innate intellectual curiosity that opened up a lifetime of learning. He loved to discuss and debate topics from psychology to theology, often with a twinkle in his eye and his coffee table was perennially piled with books. Gord began his professional career as a member of the Toronto Police Force before transitioning to automotive sales, holding various positions at dealerships in Toronto. In 1966, the opportunity arose to purchase the Volkswagen dealership in Kitchener and Gord and his family took a leap of faith and relocated to Kitchener-Waterloo. The dealership was renamed Crosby Volkswagen and it recently celebrated its 52nd anniversary. The business, now part of the Crosby Auto Group, is under the stewardship of the third generation of Crosbys. While active in the business, Gord was awarded the Gold Pin by Volkswagen for his years of dedicated service and sustained excellence. Outside of work, Gord was actively involved in the community. Gord and his wife Geraldine were both longstanding members of St. James Rosemount United Church in Kitchener. Additionally, Gord was a volunteer with many local charitable organizations, but most notably was a long-time supporter and member of the Board of Directors of St. John's Kitchen and The Working Centre in downtown Kitchener. The difficult experiences that he faced throughout his life left their mark on him and he always felt kinship with and compassion for those who were suffering. Despite of all of his accomplishments and interests, Gord was most proud of his family. He knew firsthand how fleeting life could be, having lost a son and his inner circle of family members was his sustaining force. The family has countless stories of Gord to keep his memory alive: his legendary discipline and drive; his unwavering strength of character; his dry humour; and his fiery passion. Above all, to the end, Gord had the heart of a survivor. The family is grateful for the care Gord received from the staff at Sunnyside and from Dr. Tom Irvine. Visitation will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 2723 Victoria St. N., Breslau, ON (519-904-0400), on Sunday, January 6th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Monday, January 7th at 2 p.m., followed by interment in Memory Gardens Cemetery, with a reception to follow. If desired, memorial donations to The Working Centre would be appreciated. If so desired, a book of online condolences may be signed at www.memorycemetery.ca