Professor Emeritus of Aeronautical Engineering, University of Toronto

It is with profoundly broken hearts that we announce the passing of our dad, Gord, who died peacefully in his 98th year, dearly cherished husband of 67 years to the late Patricia Johnston (predeceased 2022) daughter Heather (Don) son Robert Thomas (Carole), granddaughters Liza and Jenna (Cole), step granddaughter, Imogen (Matt) and great grandfather to Levi. Any man can be a father, but it takes a special man to be a dad. The loss of our dad is immeasurable, but so is his love for us, left behind. His devotion to his family was supreme. He was the consummate gentleman, eternal optimist and always a beacon for common sense with a wonderful sense of humour. His favourite saying was “work hard, play hard” and he lived up to that to the fullest extent.

Dad was born in Toronto, the proud and only son of Margaret and Reginald Johnston. Attended Allenby Public school, then North Toronto Secondary school (1939-1944), University of Toronto (1944-1948), During the summer of 1945, dad joined the University Naval Training Division (UNTD) and with 40 or so other students, boarded a train and headed to Halifax as part of their Naval military training. However, he was de-listed shortly after, as the war in Europe ended that September.
Worked at Orenda Engines 1948-1950, helping to design an engine for the Chinook, a forerunner to the Avro Arrow.
1950-1953 attended again U of T for his Masters and a PhD, writing his thesis on “The Dynamics of a Curling Stone”, which was eventually published, in 1981, in the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal.
1953-1955 worked in Dearborn Mi. in the Ford Research Lab.
1955 while living in Dearborn Mi., met and married Patty and moved back to Toronto. Together, they helped design their first home in Etobicoke and started a family there 4 years later.
1955 he began working at De Havilland, specifically in noise reduction for the Otter airplane. (The U.S. was in Vietnam and wanted a quieter version of the Otter.)
Later, he was in charge of R & D at De Havilland - developed a short take-off and landing of the Otter airplane - a contract given by the Government of Canada defense research department. Worked on a reverse thrust engine before finally leaving De Havilland. In 1967 he became Dean of Faculty of Engineering at Lambton College in Sarnia.

Relocated in 1968 to Glastonbury Ct. to work at United Technology Research Center in the engineering lab, a separate division of United Aircraft Corporation. While working here he designed an Anechoic wind tunnel to measure noise levels in helicopters. In 1970 he, Pat and family moved back to Toronto to become a professor of aeronautical engineering at U of T where he taught acoustics at the graduate level until his retirement there in 1995. During the 1970’s formed his own company Engineering Physics - Aercoustics Engineering, where he worked on noise reduction for the TTC, consulted for SPAR aerospace, Imperial Oil Canada for reduction of noise in their car washes, and worked jointly with M.I.T. to develop software that would reduce noise of marine propellers.

Also, in the ‘70’s for 5 - 6 years he became the president of AERCOL, set up by the profs at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). In the 1980’s, as an avid curler, he was asked to work on better ice conditions for the Toronto Cricket Curling Club. The problem was with the valves and he solved this using a partial reverse cooling system to keep the curling ice colder. In 2000, despite being fully retired, worked with Samual Bernard who had patents for vertical access wind turbines. Dad also took an active interest in playing bridge and monitoring his stock portfolio well into his mid-90’’s. Part of his “work hard, play hard” mentality, he was always an athlete who loved playing many sports, including hockey, baseball, downhill skiing, sailing and golf. During his life, he was an active member of several curling clubs including St. George’s, Humberhighland, Toronto Cricket Club and finished his curling career at age 92 at Weston Golf and Curling Club. An avid Maple Leaf fan, he could often be seen at Leaf games, being a season ticket holder. In the 1930’s, his parents rented a cottage at Thunder Beach, primarily to escape the polio outbreak in Toronto. That started his lifelong affection for this particular area in cottage country. In 1978, he and Pat, bought a cottage of their own, right next to his parents on Thunder Beach. A year later, renovated it into a four season beach house and spent many memorable years there with their family and actively entertained friends from California, Connecticut, Michigan and Ontario. Dad also became an avid boater subsequently owning 1 catamaran and 2 Sea Ray’s - the first one was a 27 foot named “Power Play”. However, dad decided that boat wasn’t large enough for the frequently rough waters of Georgian Bay, and so acquired a 34 foot one, named “Pier Pressure “. Dad was always eager to take Pat and their growing family, which included their beloved Golden Retriever, Skipper, friends and neighbours on boat trips.

He was also a member, from a young age, of the Progress Bible class from St. James Bond United Church. Laterally this group became known as the Hyperion Club, where he met and made several lifelong friends. Dad had become hilariously famous in our family for always asking the 5 “w’s”, as he was never willing to accept the simple answer to one of his questions. There is so much more that can be said of his outstanding qualities, but words can hardly describe his passion for life and our affection for this amazing man, our dad. He will be massively irreplaceable and totally unforgettable.

Many thanks to all those who helped care for dad.

Friends and extended family are invited to attend a visitation, funeral service and interment at Mount Pleasant visitation centre, 375 Mount Pleasant Road on Wednesday July 3 at 1 o’clock. Refreshments to follow.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Georgian Bay Forever (georgianbayforever.org) or the Canadian Cancer Society. For online condolences, please visit www.etouch.ca

Dad, you will be forever present, never forgotten and always be in our hearts. Rest in peace dad, you will always be our shining star.