Peacefully, with family by his side at Toronto Rehab – E.W. Bickle Centre on Monday, March 14, 2016 in his 91st year. Beloved husband of Stella. Loving father of William and his wife Jean, and Richard and his wife Amparo. Cherished grandfather of Alejandro and the late Iain. Dear brother of John and his wife Naomi. Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., at Windermere, east of the Jane Subway, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 from 4 – 8 p.m. and Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 10 a.m. – 12 pm. A private family interment will take place. A Memorial Service will be held at the West Toronto Baptist Church on April 23, 2016 at 11:00 AM. For those who wish, donations may be made to the West Toronto Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
On March 14, Edward (Ed) Herbert Gerrard succumbed to prostate cancer. His short struggle with disease marked the end of a lifetime of accomplishments that began almost 91 years before, in the town of Ledesma, Province of Jujuy, Argentina.

His parents were from Ontario (father Herb from Lambeth and mother Queenie from Toronto). They had moved to Argentina in 1921 as missionaries and continued working there in that role until their deaths in the 1970s. In all, Herb and Queenie had five boys and one girl. Ed was the second oldest.

While in his late teens, Ed left home to find a job. He found meaningful work in several sectors, including the sugar refinery at Ledesma. He was also employed as a purser flying in DC-3 aircraft with Pan American-Grace Airways, better known as Panagra. These were early days in the industry and the DC-3 revolutionized air travel. His job with Panagra allowed him to see many cities throughout Central and South America, from Panama to the southern tip of Argentina.

In 1945, being the son of a Canadian, he felt compelled to support the war effort and went to England, entering the British Army as a volunteer. VE Day was celebrated immediately after he completed basic training, and, by his own admission, he was fortunate never to see active service.

Ed returned to Argentina in 1947, but in 1949 he moved to Uruguay. His brother, Ronnie, who was studying medicine in the University of Córdoba, Argentina, was wooing a local lass, Doris Firpi, who had a cousin in Montevideo. Despite having a reputation as the wandering “black sheep” of the family, Ed got a letter of introduction from Doris. Thus armed, he presented himself at the home of the person who was to become his first wife, Nidia Raffo. They married in 1951 – a union that lasted 44 years until Nidia’s death in 1995. Their two children, William and Richard, were both born in Montevideo.

While in Uruguay, Ed began working for Ford Motor Company. In 1957, looking for new opportunities, he relocated his young family to Canada. His experience with Ford of Uruguay helped him get an offer with Ford in Windsor, Ontario. Striving to continually improve his education, Ed began attending evening classes at the University of Windsor, eventually earning a degree in Industrial Accounting.

After 6 years’ service with Ford of Canada, Ed was offered an opportunity to help establish a new Ford production plant in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was there he became involved with computers and he was tasked with the responsibility of setting up the systems and data processing department for the plant. His success in this and subsequent endeavours was deftly augmented by Nidia’s social skills and warm hospitality, and he always credited her for her strong support of his work.

Political upheaval in Argentina led to uncertainty for many multinational corporations, including Ford. Leaving the plant one night in 1973 after working late, he narrowly avoided a terrorist attack outside the plant. Instead, one of his direct reports, who had left a few moments ahead of him, was fatally wounded. The terrorist used that incident to launch a campaign of extortion against Ford. The company began relocating many valued executives, and Ed was offered a transfer to the new plant Ford was planning near Valencia, Spain.

Arriving in Spain in 1974, Ed took on the challenge of setting up not only the plant’s systems and data processing department, he also took on responsibility for all telecommunications in the model facility, which employed 9,000 people. Between 1974 and 1990, when he retired at age 65, Ed witnessed the computer revolution and oversaw the company’s transition from punch cards and large mainframes to modern personal computers, tiny by comparison.

Transition to the European Union caused Spain to relax its protectionist policies, opening the way for Ed and his wife to sell their lovely suburban home in Valencia and relocate to Canada in 1992. Nidia, who had been battling breast cancer since 1984, wanted to downsize and be closer to William.

Perhaps inspired by his father, who, before going to Bible College, had been a carpenter, Ed maintained a personal interest in woodworking throughout his career. It not only helped him relieve some of the stresses of his work, it gave him a creative outlet. He became quite skilled and took on many challenging projects, although he was always modest in talking about his achievements.

Ed married Marie Stella Romaniuk in August, 1997. They had met at a church conference at Easter. Stella’s love and companionship was transformative. The two of them went on many trips throughout Canada and the US. They also travelled to Europe, the Middle East, and Argentina, where Ed took delight in showing Stella the places and people he had known in his youth.

Together, Ed and Stella took on responsibility for running free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at West Toronto Baptist Church, where he and Stella became members. The ESL classes allowed them to meet many young people from around the world with whom they kept in touch over the years.

In marrying Stella, Ed also enjoyed being part of her large, growing extended family. He loved young children and took great delight in seeing amazed looks on their faces when he did hand tricks.

Stella was a strong, supporting partner. He delighted in their time together. She was at his side throughout his short illness and hospitalization right to the end.

But Ed was also supported by his faith. Being the son of missionaries was no guarantee that he would embrace their beliefs. It was while he was in Windsor that he had a profound spiritual awakening that remained with him throughout the rest of his life. He loved Bible study and prayer. He also loved church and took time to be a strong, active participant in all the assemblies he attended in Argentina, Canada and Spain. Echoing the recent words of West Toronto Baptist’s pastor, Justin Galotti, he was “a brother in Christ who has lived out his faith in good times and in hard times in a way that is powerful and inspiring to all of us in his church family.”

Goodbye, Ed. You will be missed.