Allan Garrett
Died: June 18, 2023 | Place: University Hospital, London
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Obituary
GARRETT, Allan George…
Surrounded by the love of his family on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at University Hospital, London, Allan passed away at age 81. He is survived by his wife and soulmate Anne (Semple), their children Chris, Thomas and Karen, daughters-in-law Julia Correia, Susan Luterte and son-in-law Bryan Salt. Proud Grandpa to Sebastian, Kepler and Anneliese. Much loved big brother to Brian Garrett (fiancée Linda Leverton), brother-in-law to Dave Semple (Janice, predeceased), Sheila McCracken (Rob), Alex Semple (Sharon), Bill Semple (Debbie). Predeceased by his parents George and Edna (Fredin) Garrett and his in-laws Hugh and Connie (King) Semple. Allan was a graduate of Beck Collegiate (1961), University of Western Ontario (1964), Western Michigan (1969). He loved mathematics and at the age of 28 became Department Head of Mathematics at Chippewa Secondary School in North Bay, where he remained until his retirement 27 years later. When his grandchildren were young, he loved to work with them weekly, exploring math concepts for fun. While teaching at Chippewa, Allan enjoyed helping to lead the Outers Club (canoe tripping & winter camping), and for many years coached the cross country ski team which rose to become a provincial powerhouse, winning many OFSAA titles throughout the years. Allan himself raced with the Masters Cross Country Ski Association and in many local loppets. A true outdoorsman, Allan enjoyed many camping and canoe trips with family and friends. Allan and Anne took their grandchildren every summer for a camping experience where the kids canoed, swam, hiked, ate s’mores around the campfire and learned useful skills like how to wash dishes by hand and how to use a clothes peg. Allan and Anne thoroughly enjoyed their retirement, spending as much time travelling as possible, including Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Europe, Africa and South America and of course, North America. They also cycled, skied, hiked, canoed and ballroom danced their way through the years. Cremation has taken place. A memorial visitation and reception will be held at the A. Millard George Funeral Home Reception Centre, 60 Ridout Street South, London (located on the southeast corner of the parking lot) from 1:15 until 3:15pm on Sunday, June 25, 2023. A service will follow in the funeral home chapel at 3:30 pm. For those who cannot attend in person, the memorial service will be livestreamed by visiting the AMG Funeral Home YouTube channel, or by visiting www.amgfh.com. As an expression of sympathy, donations in memory of Allan may be made to: London Health Sciences Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Society Southwest Partners or your local chapter or a charity of your choosing. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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I am saddened to read of your Al’s passing Anne. He was a wonderful man as you know, so kind, so talented. I know you will miss him dearly. Know that you are in my thoughts at this special time .
Al was a great collegue, neighbour and friend. Sympathies to all your family. Plenty of great memories. RIP
Ann and family: I am so sorry to hear of Al’s passing. He was so helpful to Dave sorting through financial stuff for the church. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this most difficult time!!
I had the privilege of working with Al for 5 years at Chippewa. I always found him to be professional and deeply committed to his students. He had a great sense of humour and his P.A. messages reporting on a cross country race were in a class of their own. My condolences to all members of Al’s family. Garth Goodhew
Dear Anne and family,
So sorry to learn of Al’s death. I have fond memories of the two of you in ballroom dancing class. Please accept my condolences.
I remember how nice Mr. Garrett always was. My condolences to Karen and the entire family.
Ann and family. So sorry to hear of your loss. We had so many trips together with the Friendship Force.
Anne, so sad to hear of Al’s death. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m so sorry to hear of Mr. Garrett’s passing. I remember him fondly as the man who demystified calculus, encouraged us all to ‘battle back with a question’. I was lucky to also have him as a ski coach and will never forget how he made each of us feel part of the team, no matter our skill. Lovely memories. Sending along my condolences.
My sincerest condolences to Karen and your family during this sad and difficult time.
Dear Karen and family,
We are thinking of you during this difficult time. We are offering our sincere condolences.
The Coutu Family xo
Karen and Family
My thoughts are with you and your family at this time. Please take comfort in knowing that your memories still live in your heart. My deepest condolences.
Mr. Garrett made a huge difference in my life. He was the one who who made me realize mathematics was actually puzzles, patterns and fun, not calculation. I fell in love with math in his Contest Math class in Grade 9. I still remember him pacing back and forth explaining distance, velocity and acceleration with his characteristic excitement. And now I’m a professor and research mathematician, and it is really in large part thanks to him. I try to channel him in my teaching. He will be missed, and was loved.
Anne and family,
Please accept our heartfelt sympathy. We were so blessed by your gracious hospitality when visiting North Bay. Our son Jordan was boarding with you and Allan as he attended teacher’s college. I know he admired both of you for your zest for life and your many accomplishments as individuals and as a couple. We keep you and your family close in our thoughts.
Sad to see the passing Mr. Garrett.
Like so many of the teachers of that era, they really made the education process about us, the students.
He was firm and fair, and always there to help. Whether in the class or other school activities, Mr. Garrett provided the steady hand on the tiller.
Rest in Peace kind sir.
Allan was the eldest of the cousins on the Garrett side of the family. He was very respected by all of us- His intelligence, his wit, and his enthusiasm was evident in his teaching career and in the way he led his life. He was a gentleman.
Rest in peace dear Allan
Cousin Joan
Dear Anne and family:
Deb and I were very saddened to hear of the passing of Al. I know, as your husband and father, you will miss him terribly.
Al was such a wonderful and genuine person. I enjoyed his wit and humour so much as colleagues at Chippewa SS. I was fortunate to have been able to work with him. I especially enjoyed our never-ending banter and competition about our two favourite hockey teams…..the Leafs and his beloved Canadiens.
I know how much he gave to his students and how much he cared. They were lucky to have him. He was tough but he was an excellent math teacher and a great coach.
Our sincerest condolences to you all at such a sad time.
Bob and Deb Hudson
i’m so sad to hear of Mr. Garrett’s passing. my sister and I were just talking about him a couple of weeks ago wondering where he was now! we even googled him but we couldn’t find him. Mr. Garrett was my grade 9 math teacher, in 1979. to this day, i repeat his words when necessary for motivation, inspiration and strength: “Battle Back, Gang!”
Mr. Garrett was my grade 9 math teacher. He was also one of my ski coaches. We shared many OFSSA accomplishments together! I am very grateful for all his efforts and support to my athletic development. I remember his pre race speeches fondly. Short and to the point. Winning was ok and so was discipline and hard work. Thank you Mr. Garrett and my condolences to family and friends for our collective loss.
I was very sorry to hear of Mr Garrett’s passing. My most sincere condolences to Anne and the whole family.
Allan was one of those teachers that cared and was always keen to help. His enthusiasm for math/concepts and his energy was infectious. I was not a great math student, but I tried. He saw that and was there, before and after school for extra help. I have always thought back on his efforts and caring with great appreciation.
So happy to read that he made the most of his retirement and saw the world. A special guy for sure. May he rest in peace.
Dear Brian and Family, so sorry to see of the passing of your Brother Allan. Please know you are in our thoughts. Glenn and Cathy ( Cooke ) McRoberts
Peace be with you in the spirit world
dear Allan. You are in our hearts and prayers as we remember you so fondly. Our deepest sympathies to family and friends especially to
Dearest Anne we send you our love!
Peace be with you as you say farewell!
On behalf of the residents, tenants and staff of Richmond Woods Retirement Residence we would like to extend our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Allan. May you take comfort in the memories of love shared and find peace now, and in the days ahead.
To Dear Anne and Family,
It has been our honour to be friends with you and Al over so many decades, through our cherished church, and through Club 45. Al never lost his sense of humour and we enjoyed talking with him whenever he visited. It was a wonderful sight to see such a loving couple swoop around the dance floor so graciously. Our admiration for you as a couple, as Al persisted with your patient guidance to continue to dance together irregardless of the challenges. Our hearts, our prayers and our trust in God’s new home go with Al and with you Anne and family. We will miss him but will remember him well. Our love to you all, Janie and Merlin
Our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family to Anne & children. We’re very sorry for your loss. May he rest in paradise with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Allan was an outstanding individual, an excellent math teacher and department head. He made my life at Chippewa High School enjoyable as he was a pleasure to work with. My condolences to Anne and family.
Don Rolfe
Al was a colleague and friend for over 30 years. His wry sense of humor gave us many memorable moments. He challenged us to think and reflect on all aspects of life and education. May your campfire always burn bright.
We were so sorry to hear of Allan passing. Our sympathy to you and your family. Sorry we can’t make it to the funeral home but hope to see you soon Ann. Barb and Charlie
We didn’t know, Allan well, Brian, but we know he was a very good, very interesting man and Mom was very fond of him. Please accept our sympathy. Katherine and Harold
Good schools are a team sport. Every member of the team has to focus on his or her task while working in tandem with other team members. Allen Garrett was always focused on Team Chippewa. He helmed a great math department, known throughout the province for its excellence. He was a tireless contributor outside the classroom as well, devoting countless hours to the Outers Club and the Cross Country ski team, which garnered many provincial titles. He demanded a great deal of himself and expected the same from colleagues, thereby strenghthening the team bond, which resulted in a Triple “A” rating for Chippewa S. S.
On a personal note, I was the beneficiary of his sage advice and calm presence, developed over his many years at Chippewa.
To you Anne, and to your family, thank you for sharing him with us and I offer you my deepest and sincerest condolences. I am a better man for having known and worked with him.
Peter Boire
To Mrs Garrett and fellow Chippewa Raiders. I have fond memories of Mr Garrett as both my Gr 13 Algebra teacher and as a supervising teacher on Outers’ Club canoe trips and other excursions. He was an excellent teacher – always encouraging his pupils to “battle back” when things got tough. He often said “when things get tough, the tough get going”. This gruff exterior overlay a kind man who really cared about his students.
I eventually did obtain an engineering and several graduate degrees. It was his example and that of several other teachers at Chippewa that inspired me.
Rest peacefully… I wish you smooth sailing on your next canoe trip.
Al Hoffman
Chris, Julia and Seb
I was so very sorry to hear about your loss. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that you are being remembered in my thoughts and prayers!
Steve and I were both so sad to hear of Al’s passing. He taught both of us at Chippewa, over several years in the mid 70’s. I will remember him as my best math teacher – one who gave me confidence – enough to tackle calculus, and to even do some tutoring to younger students. His passion for math was clear.
Our sincere condolences to Al’s family.
I was sad to learn of Al’s passing this week( one positive of Facebook posts)
My deepest sympathies to you Anne
Many fond memories of winter weekends spent in North Bay meeting at start lines sharing the joy of Nordic ski race.
Wishing you and your family some comfort in knowing how loved Al was as a teacher, coach, competitor, and friend
Shirley Pommier