Obituaries

In the morning of October 13, after a week surrounded by his family at his beloved Shuswap Lake home, Gordon Moffat passed away peacefully in his sleep. Gordon is predeceased by his brother Don (Jeanne) and survived by his loving wife Joan, son Richard (Tricia), daughters Christine (Fred) and Cynthia (Jonathon), grandchildren Zachary, Owen, Willem, Deyne (Shawn), Lachlan and Bennett, and great grandson Pearse, along with many more family and friends.

Gordon was born in Vancouver on October 5, 1932 to Wilfred and Florence Moffat. He attended Kitsilano High School where he made many lifelong friendships. Already an avid athlete, Gordon developed a love for the performing arts, singing in the choir and playing leading roles in the annual Gilbert and Sullivan production. He attended UBC where, in spite of having had polio as a teen, he majored in Physical Education. Gordon graduated from the Vancouver Normal School in 1953 and began his teaching career in Port Alice. In 1956, he accepted the position of principal at the elementary school at RCAF station Holberg where he met Joan. Together, they moved to take positions in Fruitvale, Rock Creek, Holberg again, and then Kamloops, where he was the principal of Kay Bingham, David Thompson and Dallas elementary schools. At each school, Gordon expressed his continued love of the performing arts, conducting school choirs, directing annual drama productions, and leading Friday afternoon sing-a-longs on his banjo.

When administrators were removed from the BCTF in 1988, Gordon was appointed Executive Director of the subsequently formed BC Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, a position he held proudly until his retirement in 2002. For the next several years, he helped bring BC curriculum to schools in China and Dubai.

Gordon loved language, oysters, and single malt scotch. He had a wry sense of humour and appreciated that quality in others. He loved to play bridge, watch old movies, read Churchill biographies, and share stories from his genealogical tree. His fondest memories were of summers at the Shuswap, and the relationships his family built with longtime neighbours the Murrays, the Gryschuks and the MacKinnons. But most of all, he loved spending time with his family of whom he was very proud.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks for the kind support provided by the caregivers from Interior HomeCare Solutions, Chase Home and Community Care, and the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice. In light of the Covid pandemic, there will not be a service. If you wish to make a donation in his memory, please consider the BC Cancer Society or the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation.

• Oct 28, 2020
  Hi Joan I'm so sorry to hear of Gordon's passing. I had him as a Drama teacher and really enjoyed his teaching.
  
  He was very well liked by his Drama Students.
  
  Ricki (Walker) LeGault
  
  
• Oct 28, 2020
  Hi Joan, Gordon was a teacher of mine in Port Alice. I met the 2 of you one summer at UBC. We were both taking summer school there.
  
  My condolences to you and your family. Gordon was well liked by us at PA.
  
  - Daryl Sturdy

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