November 8, 1945 – March 28, 2022, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Dave is the son of Robert and Marion (nee Lumbers) Gibson. He was born in Toronto and lived in London England, London Ontario, Montreal Quebec and Toronto during his youth. He is the brother of Roberta Clark and Michael Gibson.
He is survived by his loving wife Dooney Gibson (Hanson). From their fall-in-love first date in November 1967, to their marriage on March 7, 1969 and through their 53 years together, theirs has been one of the great love stories. It has been a relationship and commitment that is so rare and has been so special to them both. Together, they lived by their philosophy of ‘every day, a random act of kindness’.
Dave is the proud father of Geoffrey (married to Kira Mead) and Marcie (partnered with Erin Sandilands). Being a close, loving and involved father was so important to Dave and he will be sorely missed by his children. He found great joy in spending time with his grandchildren, finding his own special connections with each one. Being unable to continue to see them grow up was one of the hardest parts of this for him to accept.
Family has always been central to Dave. He grew up spending time at a family cottage at Orchard Beach on Lake Simcoe, surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on the Lumbers side, many of whom he has remained very close to throughout his life. And from all other parts of his and Dooney’s family, they have very personal relationships with nieces, nephews and cousins. Theirs is a big family tree with many beautiful branches that have meant so much to him through the years.
Dave and Dooney have lived in the North Toronto community since 1971 and in the same home for 45 years. They are an integral part of the neighborhood and love the idea of neighborhoods. They are mainstays at small local businesses and out for walks around the block, usually seen holding hands. Dave held many volunteer positions in the community, including on the local Ratepayer’s Association and helping in many ways with the Oriole Park Elementary School, such as the annual fair. Friends and neighbors will also remember the great fun of the 50s-style dance parties they helped organize at the rec center. Dave spent many years on the Squires Trust board, benefiting Wellesley and St Michael’s Hospitals. He was involved with St Clements Anglican Church and in fundraising for the Salvation Army. He was always reaching out to help someone.
Dave’s life was all about connecting with people and being a loving part of their lives. It was like a snowball of friends, always gathering more and more special people from each place and phase. He was excited to meet new people and always warm, inviting and interested. His friendships are a true legacy which he cherished. Some stretch back to before he and Dooney were married. Many close ones are from the time when the kids were young and everyone was involved in the school and neighborhood. Summer camp visitor day weekends. Dinner parties. Drinks on the back deck. Weekends at cottages. Trips to Buffalo. They were always making new friends. They owned a cottage on Balsam Lake for many years and formed numerous special friendships in the Kawartha area. They hosted ski days. Dave loved the knowledge of wine and enjoyed sharing that with friends. Together, they brought people together.
Dave was very successful and highly admired during his career in the investment business, spending most of his career at BMO-Nesbitt Burns. His focus was on helping individuals with their financial goals and retirement planning and made a profound difference in the lives of his clients, many of whom he considered friends, too. At the office, it was also all about the way he impacted people. He loved to teach and mentor new salespeople and became a branch manager, even starting three new branches. Later in his career, he took on two partners who became like family. In 2007 he was able to retire, feeling very good about entrusting his valued clients in such capable and caring hands.
Throughout their lives, but especially in retirement, Dave and Dooney were avid travelers. Many of their adventures were shared with friends and they had some great travel companions. But equally, they loved each other’s company. “Just you and me, babe” they would say. They love to see the land, travel the backroads and meet the people, whether in Canada and the US or in Australia and New Zealand.
Finally, how could we write about Dave without writing about his love of golf and of skiing? He was a member of Lambton Golf Club for 54 years, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and aunt. He has a special group of golfing friends called the Snowmen, who for 34 years have gone away once a year to play together and celebrate their friendship. He and Dooney have enjoyed countless downhill ski days, gliding through the snow together, with big smiles on their faces. And they have taken many great ski trips throughout North America. Such a joy for them!
Dave has had a big beautiful life, full of deep and meaningful relationships with friends and family and, at the core of it all, with Dooney. He was a great hugger and always stayed in touch. He listened and cared, through the good parts of life and the hard ones, too. He was so generous of himself and he was always there for those who mattered to him. All of this came easily to him because it’s just who he was; an honest expression of his true self. He was a beautiful piano player, even writing compositions for some friends and family. He was funny and quick to laugh. He saw the glass as half full and always found the silver lining, even through his last days. Everything good was “the best”. He was a great maker and receiver of joy and goodness. A bright bright light. He is irreplaceable.
Dave died of cancer at home with his family by his side, just as he wished, loved and loving to the very last moment.
He leaves us with these last words:
Hug the ones you love!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to….
Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care: www.tlcpc.org
Camp Ooch (Campfire Circle), for children with cancer: www.campfirecircle.org
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of David Gordon Gibson 2022..
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario