Gerry was a Professor in the Business Department from 1970 to 1980 and from 1986 to 1994. He left the college to continue his battle with MS, which he fought courageously for more than 30 years.
Gerry excelled in many things. He had a career in business before coming to St. Lawrence and he also held a very senior position in Sports Canada during his interrupted career at the college. He was the author of several marketing texts and developed the initial Human Resources Management Program on Kingston Campus. In addition, he was very accomplished in a variety of sports including football, baseball, hockey, tennis and squash. He initiated the Canadian Touch Football Association and managed it for several years.
At St. Lawrence, no one personified better the lively spirit of the Business Department in those early decades. He was full of ideas and enthusiasm and always ready for a good laugh. He loved to play practical jokes and fellow teachers were often left baffled and then amused by some strange letter or phone message. Long after he left, staff would react to a similar communiqué by looking around with wonder and asking “Could that be McCready again?”
Gerry’s wonderful spirit and strength of character were never more evident than in his response to the increasingly challenges of MS – backed by formidable support from his wife Charlotte. He became the Education Director for the Kingston Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and Editor of the MS Pathfinder Newsletter. He maintained contacts throughout the world, via the Internet, and stayed on top of research into MS. He also used the Internet to send frequent jokes to his wide circle of friends, thus continuing the tradition of making people laugh that so epitomized Gerry McCready.
Those of us privileged to visit with him at his home regularly, found the same old Gerry, ready to reminisce about St. Lawrence and relive jokes and adventures from the old days. He was
always interested in his former colleagues and how they were doing. He was a man who enriched the lives of all those who knew him. Many of those friends joined with family on September 14 for a celebration of life. Laughter was more prevalent than tears as SLC retirees Brad Hill, Bill Crowe, Mike Cullimore, Ron Robinson, and Dick Tindal (among other guests) remembered Gerry and told stories about his jokes and pranks and wonderfully upbeat personality. Had anyone had the foresight to videotape Brad’s eulogy during the funeral service – in which he imagined Gerry’s conversation with God and his various suggestions to God for improving heaven – it would surely have gone viral on YouTube by now!
Gerry is survived by his mother Jean, wife Charlotte, daughters Remmick and Cary (Kurt), and five grandchildren.
McCREADY, Gerald “Gerry“ - Peacefully, at the Kingston General Hospital on Sunday, September 9th, 2012 with his family by his side. Beloved husband of 49 years of Charlotte. Loving father of Cary- Lee Carter (Kurt) of Kingston, and Remmick McCready of Stockholm, Sweden. He is fondly remembered by his loving grandchildren Chloe and Hunter Stack, Kensington Carter of Kingston, and Zafir and Yasmeen of Stockholm. Gerry was born in Toronto, son of Jean and the late Chuck McCready. As well as by his mother, Gerry is survived by his brother Paul and his very special cousin “Janie.“ Gerry attended secondary school at Lakefield and obtained degrees from the State University of New York, and Queen's University. He had a long career in marketing with Sports Canada and St. Lawrence College- where he taught and inspired so many students in that field of the Business Department. As a published author of many books, Gerry's inspiration and knowledge will endure for generations. He will be forever remembered for never uttering a discouraging word, he was everyone's Number One source of encouragement. His outlook was always that of 'the glass half-full,' in spite of the challenges he faced in dealing with MS. He encouraged everyone to set goals, to achieve them, and to exceed them. His sense of humour and positive attitude sustained him until he was called home. Relatives and friends will be received at the GORDON F. TOMPKINS FUNERAL HOME - TOWNSHIP CHAPEL, 435 Davis Dr. (Centennial Dr. at Taylor-Kidd Blvd.) on Friday, September 14th, from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel on Saturday, September 15th, at 11 a.m., with a Celebration of Life to follow in the reception room. In memory of Gerry, donations to the MS Society - Kingston would be greatly appreciated by the family. SharingMemories online at www.gftompkinstownship.ca 119