Gerald Gilbert GRAHAM

GRAHAM, Gerald Gilbert Passed away at St. Mary's General Hospital, Kitchener, on Sunday, May 16, 2004. Gerald Gilbert Graham was the only child of the late Gilbert John Graham and Elizabeth Anne (McCrimmon) Graham. He was born in Ottawa, on Canada's 50th Anniversary, July 1, 1917. He is survived by his spouse of 50 years, Dorothy (Hill) Graham, an ex-Wren who served in Canada's Navy during World War II. He has described her as his cherished wife, constant companion, and dedicated caregiver since their marriage in May 1954. He leaves also one sister-in-law, Verna Marion of Vancouver, B.C. and two cousins, Fern Smith of London, ON and Desmond Coughtrey of Ottawa. The Grahams had no children of their own but they served as hosts and surrogate parents for many single and married foreign students who attended McGill's MacDonald College in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, PQ and the University of Waterloo. The resulting warm family relationships have endured over the years as the individuals pursued their professional careers in Canada, the U.S.A., South East Asia, and Australia. During World War II, Mr. Graham was seconded to the National Research Council in Ottawa, ON. At War's end, he transferred to the National Film Board to become Director of Technical Operations and Research. Among his many technical publications were papers on special light weight equipment to meet Canadian weather and mobile production requirements; the design and construction of the new National Film Board Building in Montreal. As a retirement project, he wrote "Canadian Film Technology, 1896 - 1986", an Ontario Film Institute Book, published by the University of Delaware Press. His work in the Film Industry was recognized by many awards, recipient of the SMPTE Grierson Medal for Technical Achievements in Documentary Films; Life Fellow, US Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers; Fellow of the British Cinematograph, Sound and Television Society, and Honourary Member of the International Union of Cinematic Technical Societies in France. Upon retirement, he came to Kitchener and served as Coordinator of the first Ontario Senior Games Finals and served on the Downtown Action Committee for several years. He was also instrumental in helping to organize the Kiwanis Club of Cameron Heights which he served devoutly for many years. There will be no visitation and cremation has taken place. Should you wish to make a memorial contribution, please donate to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 621 King Street West, Kitchener, (519) 745-9495 or online at 1057@alderwoods.com. The Ottawa Citizen