Obituary Overview
Garfield Thomas Ogilvie
Garfield Thomas Ogilvie
July 19, 1931
September 14, 2018
In his 87th year, Garfield (Gary) Thomas Ogilvie, a genuine Irish/Scot Gaelic spirit, passed with peace and grace into the waiting arms of his beloved Lord.
Deeply spiritual and devoted to both God and family, Gary was the beloved husband of Marilyn, nee O’Grady, the love of his life and loving father to Catherine (Drew Fernandes), Mary (Mark Garvey), Thomas (Tamera Beekmans) and John. Gary was the proud grandfather of Laura, Colin, Kathleen, Rebecca, Sarah, Heather, Shawn, Osiris and Michael.
As an only child, he treasured his large extended family, including the Oranges, Mulvihills, O’Keefes and many other family and friends.
As a genuine renaissance man, Gary was an accomplished athlete, musician, educator, poet, raconteur, and provocateur and a published author.
Gary was born in Ottawa, Ontario and raised in the community of Westboro by his father, Thomas and his beloved mother, Evelyn or Eva, nee O’ Keefe. For several summers, Gary lived in Corkery with his grandmother at O’Keefe’s Corners in the western section of Carlton County or West Huntley. This rural setting was Gary’s second home and he quickly learned about hard physical farm work. Even though he was known for his natural physical strength, he reminisced years later about the work on a farm, “Nothing was easy.”
As a buachaill bea, he was charmed by Corkey’s new world Celtic spirit. He spent hours with his many aunts, uncles and cousins in the “Valley”. As time went on, Gary always remembered, honored and prayed for his teaghlaigh agus cairde, so instrumental in his formative years.
Gary attended St Patrick’s College where he excelled in both football and hockey. Unbeknownst to him, a teenaged Marilyn O’Grady, three years his junior, was, from afar, a super fan of Gary, the athletic hockey star. As a key player on St. Patrick’s championship-contending junior hockey team, Gary was scouted and invited as a teen by the New York Rangers (NYR) to attend two of their summer training camps. He was known as a smooth-skating rugged defenseman who had the nick name “Oats” after the Ogilvie Oats cereal brand. Gary impressed the coach and GM of the NYR’s and future member of the NHL Hall of Fame, Frank Boucher and was asked to sign with their minor pro farm club, the New York Rovers. Recently, he was told by an old teammate that he had been by far the best player in each of the three camps. However, signing a contract with the NYR’s meant that he would not graduate from St Pat’s ,so Gary turned down the offer of long lonely bus rides and bad food and chose to finish his degree instead. After high school, Gary went to work for Coca-Cola, slugging crates of pop all day and playing senior amateur hockey at night for the Brockville Magedoma’s in the New York-Ontario Hockey League.
After too many crates of pop, too many miles on the road, too little money and too many penalties, he felt the calling of the Lord to become a priest and attended St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto. He stayed for only two years and began to discern what life path to choose. At the suggestion of a friend, he decided to become an educator. A life decision he never regretted.
While at the Ontario College of Education, he met his St Pat’s super fan and future bride, Marilyn O’Grady. They married in 1958 and moved to Perth, Ontario where Gary taught for four years at Perth Collegiate, played hockey for the Perth Blue Wings, became a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and a father for the first time. In 1960, with baby Catherine in tow, the young family resettled in Nepean and Gary continued his teaching career at Woodroffe High School in Ottawa. There, he soon became the Director of Guidance; a job he held for 26 years. Through his passion and dedication to the spirit, and character of each student, he shaped the future lives of many young people. In retirement, Gary would often run into former students who would fondly remind him that he had helped shape their careers and lives; a rewarding and cherished compliment.
In retirement, Gary wrote extensively and became a published author. In 1985, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Woodroffe High School, Gary wrote an anecdotal history of the school. It was factual, but also contained many heart-warming and amusing tales. This was the beginning of a passion for writing that lead to four published books. In 2010, he expanded his original work for Woodroffe High School and wrote an addendum essay that encompassed his 50 years as a student and teacher.
His first major publication was a book entitled, “Once Upon a Country Lane. A Tribute to a Gaelic Community.” Gary’s literary vision was to both entertain and record the history and charm of the Irish/Scot Celtic community around Almonte, Ontario. Known as Corkery, it was the rural farming area and culture he knew and loved intimately. He researched extensively, annotated, interviewed and chronicled the stories and lives of the families and friends who settled there. He grew up with and was greatly influenced by many of the people mentioned in his book. It is a fascinating read on a passing culture and its spirited people. Published in 1992 and reprinted in 2005, Gary’s first book is humorous and soulful, but it is also a detailed and valuable historical reference book. Gary wrote and published three more books: Silver Linings, Tomorrow is a Lovely Day and Matter of Grace. Thought provoking, heartwarming and amusing, they all reflect his artistic, mystical, poetic and sensitive nature.
For 60 years, Gary and Marilyn lovingly raised their four children at his beloved home, Bonnie Airlie, where he peacefully passed away in fitting Gaelic style, at his teach with his cherished teaghlach together at his side.
“Somewhere, beyond the veil, the pipes and flutes will call together all the clans. Families, relatives, and friends will be together.
That’s what will make heaven, heaven: being forever with the Creator, his Angles, and Saints, and our loved ones.”
-Once Upon a Country Lane
Garfield Thomas Ogilvie leaves us with grace and dignity for a better place. He delighted and inspired many, lead by his passionate heart, was deeply loved and will be missed by all.
Gary’s family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to those who cared for him so lovingly during his illness, especially Brittany, Mary Ann and his longtime family physician and friend, Dr. David MacMillan.
Divinely-guided, Gary was devoted to the Sisters of Visitation and OMI Lacombe Oblate Mission in Peru.
Several years ago, after meeting Brother Blaise, an Oblate Priest from this mission, the Oblate Peruvian Mission became very important to Gary.
The OMI Oblates are a missionary congregation who are, “disciples of Jesus, with the heart of Mary Immaculate, sons and daughters of Eugene de Mazenod.” As Brothers and Priests, they take vows of poverty and chastity, humbly preaching the gospel by word and deed and living their mission in the communities they serve. Working in collaboration with laity and other religious groups, they also provide basic necessities for the poor to improve their quality of life, fostering vocations, educating children, training adults in career skills and encouraging healing and reconciliation.
Their work embodied Gary’s life-long deep profound belief in social justice and the need to provide aid and spiritual support to the marginalized, poor and powerless masses through the loving teachings of Christ. Gary was humbled to be able to help the OMI Lacombe Oblate mission in Peru and the people of this impoverished community.
“The small rural hospital in Santa Clotilde serves the people over a 400- kilometre stretch along the banks of the Napo River. Relying on a greater power than their own, the operating room, riverboats and nearby church are filled with prayers and praise to God.
From making concrete blocks for the construction of houses to furnishing these houses with beds and blankets, Oblate Blaise MacQuarrie, based in Chincha Alta, helps families with the most basic necessities of life.”
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the OMI Oblate Mission in Peru at www.omilacombe.ca.
Friends may pay respects at the Kelly Funeral Home, Barrhaven Chapel 3000 Woodroffe Ave, Nepean on Thursday September 20, 2018 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Memorial Mass Friday September 21, 2018 at 11 a.m. in St John The Apostle Church (2340 Baseline Rd.)
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Garfield Thomas Ogilvie 2018.
Décès pour la Ville: Ottawa, Province: Ontario
