THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND!

It is with broken hearts and beautiful memories that our family celebrates the life, but also mourns the passing of Gary Michael White, age 69, on April 25, 2023, in Toronto Ontario.

Gary’s life motto was “to play for all the marbles”. He lived his life loving hard, playing hard and working hard. He put his passion for perfection into everything he did.

Early in life, Gary’s passion was sport. Growing up in the Beaches in Toronto, Gary’s childhood was consumed by sports activities. This passion led him to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from York University. Whether it be, gymnastics, boating, skiing, waterskiing, motorcycling, scuba diving, golf and more, he excelled at each and moved on to conquer the next. He shared this passion for sport with his life-long friends from the Beaches, whom he considered brothers, Bob Robichaud, Bill Deneault and Tom Buckley. Even when life got in the way, these four always found the time to circle back for breakfast and catch up with each other’s lives.

This passion continued throughout his long, loved career. His thirst for learning was unlimited. He never let anything defeat him and never gave up on a challenge. Gary was never shy to voice his opinion, argue his point and never wavered from his convictions. After a spirited debate with a friend, Gary was asked…“What is it like to always be right”, his reply was swift, stoic and without hesitation…”lonely”. It was that sarcastic wit that made him even more endearing to us all. Retirement never seemed to stick with Gary. He continued to work for the love of it. Most recently, he enjoyed his work with the Maxxit Group, who challenged him with exciting new projects, allowing him to learn every day. His work life was so much a part of his identity, made special by the relationships created along the way, with his mentor and friend Bill Kemper, friend Jim Nicoletti, “The Boys” at R and G, Peter Vanin and John Sorbera, Steve McElwee and the Team at Maxxit Group.

Throughout Gary’s life he was surrounded by “girls”. It started with his four sisters whom he loved dearly. Gary was always there when they needed his advice. He was happy to be the family lawyer, accountant and at times, even mediator.

Gary’s love for his other girls cannot be measured. Carol Ann, Mallory and his wife Janet were his life's loves and no words can express how fiercely he cherished them and how very much he was loved in return.
He was so very proud of his girls and encouraged them to follow his lead to work hard and love harder. Gary was also blessed to experience the love of his grandchildren Emma and Jack. They brought him so much joy and his “girls” will keep his memory alive with never-ending stories of the wonderful adventures of GG. He will be greatly missed by his sons-in-law Patrick Ruiz and Richard Sandy, to whom he never gave a break. He kept them on their toes, always reminding them how lucky they were to be with his girls and never missed an opportunity to remind them that they would never fill his shoes! They humoured him knowing secretly he loved them both.

Gary enjoyed the love of many friends and family. He will be deeply missed and always loved by his mother-in-law Mary, sister-in-law Allyson and his brother-in-law Jeff, who always shared the secrets of his latest culinary creations. His “girl squad” extended to Suzanne Goulding, Kim Letto and Patricia Salmon, whom he loved like sisters and who he annoyed like a brother. They too were often the recipients of his unsolicited advice on life and long-time, always there when you need them friends, Maureen and Steve Wilkens and Harm DeJonge.

Gary was blessed to enjoy time at the lakehouse in Buckhorn. Lake life was his happy place, enjoying a glass of wine on the dock, creating memories with wonderful friends, Kim Letto and Glenn Joray (New Brunswick) Michelle Smith and Mike O’Neill (Gibraltar), Nancy Salter, Bill Jones, Chad Salter, Dan and Suzi Clark, Barb and Brian Pitt, Angela and Scott Gill and the rest of the wonderful folks, too many to mention. They welcomed him into the community with open arms and open wine bottles.

Left to celebrate his life are his loving wife Janet Masson, daughters, Carol Ann Ruiz (Patrick), Mallory Sandy (Richard), his grandchildren, Emma and Jack Ruiz, sisters, Donna White, Laura Alison, Yvonne White, Michelle Picot (Dave) and his nieces and nephews.
Also remembering him with love are his mother-in-law Mary Masson, sister-in-law Allyson Haggerty (Jeff) and his extended family, the Kowalchuk’s, the Faggiani’s, the Pellizzari’s, the Aiken’s, Linda Circelli, the Circelli’s, the Zirone’s, the Lynett’s and the Ruiz’s.

Gary was predeceased by his parents, Muriel and Vincent White, father-in-law, Alistair Masson, and brother-in-law, John Alison.

A Celebration of Gary’s life will be held on May, 18th at Toronto Hunt. Please join us any time between 1-4 to toast Gary's wonderful life.

In lieu of flowers, we graciously ask that you consider a donation to one Gary’s favourite charities…Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto and/or Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Oouch & Camp Trillium).