Obituary: Kerry Martin '57

A warm and gentle soul has left the planet. John Kirwan (Kerry) Martin died too young at the age of 76 on July 11, 2018 following complications from heart surgery. First son of Harald and Betty, irreplaceable big brother of Peter (Louise) and Michael (Judy). Beloved Wicked Uncle to Andrea (Jean-Sébastien), Nick (Amanda), Keith, Diana and Zoë and great-uncle to a gaggle of great-nieces and great-nephews: he adored and was proud of them all beyond measure. Former teacher of history and geography at Selwyn House School in Westmount  (1973-1976) and Ridley College in St Catharines, Ontario (and even French at Ridley!). For Kerry, teaching was a true calling: assiduous preparation and delivery at every class and no student got anything less than his full attention and genuine care. He gave it his very best each and every day and many still say he was the best teacher they ever had. A formidable opponent (but wonderful partner) on doubles tennis and squash courts for decades, possessed of wondrous shot-making ability. A kind, patient, thoughtful, generous and calm man who read industrial quantities of books (and kept many), he had a truly vast compendium of knowledge: he excelled at all the Trivial Pursuit categories but Entertainment at which he was next to useless. A dedicated supporter of the sport of squash throughout Canada in countless ways for decades, especially with junior players. He was an equally dedicated supporter of the Church of St Andrew and St Paul in Montreal and the Little Metis Presbyterian Church in Metis Beach, Quebec where he enjoyed nearly every summer of his life and where his ashes will be buried in a cookie jar next to his mother: THAT will please him greatly. Our thanks to Hôpital Régional de Rimouski and the Montreal General and Royal Victoria hospitals in Montreal for their professionalism, care and compassion. It says so much about Kerry that his Montreal General medical record includes this: “Thank you for involving us in the care of this pleasant gentleman”. A ‘gathering by the river’ memorial service will be held in Metis Beach on July 28th at 10:00 a.m. and be followed by a second in Montreal in September on a date yet to be arranged: we’ll let you know. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Little Metis Presbyterian Church, c/o Tim Powell, 5080 Tenth Line R.R. #5, Georgetown, Ontario L7G 4S8 or to the Church of St Andrew and St Paul, 3415 Redpath, Montreal Quebec H3G 2G2 would be hugely appreciated.

Montreal Gazette obituary