April 5, 1948 - March 16, 2025
In loving memory ~
Our wonderful and most beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died suddenly of a catastrophic brain hemorrhage on March 16, 2025.
He was full of life and zest for living - hiking, trail marking, swimming, skiing, going on cross-Canada road trips and making friends and grandchildren laugh. He was very active advocating for local forest preservation and caring for the many pensioners he championed for more than a decade. The suddenness of his death has left us unbelieving and bereft.
Gary was born to Stanley Harold McCaig and Christina Emily McCaig (Rickard) in Edmonton, Alberta, on April 5, 1948. He spent his childhood moving to various air force bases with his family before settling in the Victoria area. He was an outstanding student and pursued studies in Chemical Engineering at UBC, although most of his career was in management. He held many positions at the Port Alberni Pulp and Paper Mill and finally was Director of Technology for Catalyst Paper at Head Office. He was particularly proud of his involvement and leadership in the conversion of the #5 Paper Machine to produce "coated papers", which undoubtedly led to the durability of the Mill and the retention of many jobs in Port Alberni.
Gary leaves behind his forever love, wife Juliana; his children Graeme (Emily) and Karin (Bryan), and cherished grandchildren Stanley and Alice McCaig and Josephine McLeese; his sister Phyllis Williamson, brother and sister-in-law Chris and Joan Cox, nieces Ilene, Sharon, Laura, Brenda and nephews Alan, James, and Stephen and their families. Always, Gary gave wise and considered counsel to the whole extended family.
A Memorial Service was held at Trinity Anglican and Lutheran Church on March 24, 2025, in Port Alberni. So many of his friends and colleagues spoke of his leadership, intelligence, passion for justice, kindness, and great sense of humour.
If you wish to give a donation in memory of Gary, please choose a charity of your choice or donate to Together Type 1 Diabetes Foundation of Canada.
May his memory be a blessing forever.