[Advisors] Gareth Shearman in memoriam

[Marita Moll]

I'll never forget first time I ever saw Gareth.  I was speaking at the 
1993 (4?) community networking conference at Carleton University.  
Gareth was seriously fast asleep in the front row!  "Hmm, who is that?"  
I wondered.  Asking around a bit, I discovered that this was the already 
legendary (in the community networking world) Gareth Shearman, who, 
along with his wife Mae, had founded Victoria Freenet, the very first 
Canadian community network in Canada. I figured it must have been jet 
lag, not my less than stellar speaking skills that were to blame for the 
public 40 winks.  I later realized that Gareth had that rare ability to 
quickly catch some sleep when he needed to and then just carry on, not 
having missed a thing.  Oh, it is a rare person who has that gift!

That was many years ago, and all this time, Gareth and Mae never 
waivered in their commitment to community in general, to the community 
project they founded and all the things that flowed from it, including 
numerous organizations at the national and international level.  It was 
a lifetime commitment that leaves huge footprint, that touches a lot of 
people.

Now we must bid goodbye part of this team. Gareth was a leader who 
guided with a gentle, thoughtful hand -- kind, humble, never out for 
personal benefit.  He was in it for the long haul and he was in it for 
the community.  My deepest condolences go out to Mae to whom I wish to 
give a big, long hug.  I am so sad that Gareth is no longer going to be 
guiding us in person.  But he did leave all of us with wonderful 
memories and great paths to follow.  These will continue to be part of 
our lives and our work and we will carry on.

But for a few moments, I would like to stop and acknowledge a deep sense 
of loss.

Marita


On 10/15/2013 12:03 AM, Garth Graham wrote:
> This is a brief note to let you all know our friend and companion in arms, Gareth, died this morning, around 11 am.  I don't have any more details, and I wouldn't have the heart for them even if I did … except to say he was the most selfless person I ever met.
>
> GG
> _______________________________________________
> Advisors mailing list
> Advisors at tc.ca
> http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/advisors
>