Obituaries/Notices

Gemmell, Reginald

Reginald Dean Gemmell
1930 –2024



Our grandfather, brother, father, husband, and friend died peacefully at home in the early hours
of Wednesday, May 1st, after living 93 full years.  

Reg leaves behind his beloved wife Tina of 46 years, son John (Tracy), daughters Susan, Nancy (Glen), and Cathy (Mauro);
his grandchildren Mara (Kevin), Elizabeth (Mark), Monica, Esther (Elman), Dylan, Jay (Taryn), Ezra, and Avery; and two lovely
great-grandsons, Harrison and Ethan. Reg also leaves behind his beloved siblings: Bruce (Eira), Rod (Gwen), Greg (Helen), Janice (David) and many nieces and nephews. Reg was predeceased by his parents Art and Winnifred (Foster) Gemmell,
and brothers Gary and Doug (Connie).

Reg was born in Montreal, Quebec, the first child in his family. When the beginning of the Depression interrupted his father's career,
Reg and his parents spent his first few years living with the extended Gemmell family in Whitefish, Ontario. It was there that Reg developed his enduring love of Northern Ontario with annual visits to his grandparents as a child in the summers; working for his uncle Bill, a tourist outfitter on Lake Panache as a teenager; geologic mapping for mining companies during his University years; followed by family vacations with a family of his own. After seven years in Whitefish, Reg grew up in Sudbury, Port Hope, Toronto, Montreal and Ajax, with new siblings arriving along the way. His family was one of the first to live in Ajax during the war and stayed for a while where he developed lifelong friendships before the family settled at 143 Hastings Avenue in Toronto's east end. 

Reg was a very proud graduate (1953) of Victoria College at the University of Toronto. After graduation he worked as a marketing executive in the Canadian major appliance industry (Inglis, Moffats, GSW, Camco and finally Whirlpool). Reg was also Chairman
of the Canadian Appliance Manufacturing Association (CAMA) for over 45 years. He was very proud of his career which
spanned five decades, and he continued to work on contract projects well into his 80s.  

After retirement and a move to Prince Edward County, Reg became a Charter Member of the Wellington Rotary Club
where he held the position of Club Secretary for many years and was honoured to become the first "Rotarian of the Decade".
He was an enthusiastic Rotarian and citizen of Wellington. He and his family are very proud of the interpretive signs he created for Wellington Beach.  Although he filled his retirement with Rotary, reading, learning and keeping up with politics and sports, his priority in life was his wife and family. Reg was the pillar of his family. He always put others' needs ahead of his own and always made time for you. He was a man of integrity with a strong work ethic, a fountain of knowledge and a sincere gentleman.

The family would like to thank David Manchester NP, Angel Ayson RPN, Anna Baldasti PSW and family and friends for
their compassionate care, enabling Reg to stay at home, which is where he wanted to be.

A Celebration of Life Service at the Wellington United Church will take place
on Wednesday, May 22nd at 12:00 p.m. followed by a reception in the church hall. 
The family would kindly ask that those attending the service please wear a mask at the service.

For family and friends unable to attend, a video of the service will be made available shortly afterwards
on the United Church YouTube website 
More details to follow at a later date.
Online condolences may be shared at www.ainsworthfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Reg's memory to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation
Back the Build Fund https://www.pecmhf.ca/back-the-build.
Cheques can be mailed to PECM Hospital Foundation, 403 Main Street, Picton, ON K0K 2T0

Arrangements in the care of the
Ainsworth Funeral Home, 288 Noxon Avenue, Wellington

Memorial Donations to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation Back the Build 
may be made by cheque and mailed to 403 Main Street, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
or online at www.pecmhf.ca or www.backthebuild.ca

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