Gerrit Maureau

MAUREAU _ Gerrit Theodorus Francis Ross Gerrit Theodorus Francis Ross Maureau died unexpectedly on December 20, 2008 along with his wife of twenty-five years, Dr. Sheila Malm, in a plane crash in the Colorado mountains. He leaves behind his brother Douglas Smith (Pam) and nephew Peter, all of Aldergrove, BC; sister, Sheila Smith of Vancouver; and a daughter from his previous marriage, Lisette Fraser (Kyle) and grandchildren, Abbi and Mattias, of Calgary. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Gerri was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He started his schooling at Dollar Academy in Scotland, and then spent his teen years in Calgary and Edmonton. After completing a BSc (Hons.) in Physics and Geology, and an MSc at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, he went on to do a year of graduate work at the University of California in Berkley. He began his career with Shell International which took him to Holland, Oman, and Texas, with brief stops in Africa. He left Shell after thirteen years, and returned to Canada to take up a position with PetroCanada where he was involved with offshore drilling in Newfoundland. This was followed by senior management positions with various companies in the oil industry. Eventually he became a consultant, started his own company of MaurOil International, and travelled throughout the world sharing his knowledge and expertise. He took a couple of long term positions in Germany and spent two years in St. John's, Newfoundland where he developed a masters program at Memorial University for executives in the oil industry. Most recently, he was CEO of the Canadian Petroleum Institute, and lately started "semi-retirement". He was a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG). His fascination with flying began as an Air Cadet in Edmonton and continued throughout his life. He never missed an opportunity to take an aerial tour of any area he visited. From an awe inspiring aerial survey of the Himalayas in Nepal, to the flatlands of the prairies, he was always at home in the air. Gerri was a man who reflected the influences of both Europe and North America. In his early years he developed a facility for languages speaking English, Dutch and Spanish, later adding French, German and others to his repertoire. He appreciated the fine wines and culture of the Continent, as well as the efficiency of North America. He set high standards for himself and others, and was a gracious, genial host. He was well-read and enjoyed listening to music, especially Spanish guitar. He could play the trombone, guitar and piano although these hobbies were overshadowed by his passion for flying. He conversed easily with everyone, and was an excellent raconteur who enjoyed sharing stories, anecdotes and jokes. He and his wife, Sheila, loved traveling and took every opportunity to share time together in many parts of the world: Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, Africa, Europe, parts of South America, and of course, much of North America. Most recently, they purchased a home in White Rock, BC where they planned to move later this year. Both their families were looking forward to having them closer by. A remembrance and celebration of the lives of both Gerri and Sheila will take place on January 25, 2009 at the Calgary Petroleum Club (319 - 5 Avenue S.W.) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The family wishes no flowers, but contributions in kind may be made in one, or both, of their names to the charity of your choice. Details of a scholarship or memorial fund will be released at a later date. Condolences may be sent via email to his brother and daughter at: maureaucondolences@yahoo.ca.