Gilbert, Joseph Rosario R. "Ross"

It is with heavy hearts and sadness, the Gilbert family announces the passing of Ross Gilbert on March 6, 2021 following a short stay at the Huntsville Hospital.  He was 90 years old.  Ross was the beloved husband of (Nona) Ruth Gilbert (previously deceased on June 24, 2015) for over 51 years. Ross was the loved and cherished father, friend and mentor to his son Jeff Gilbert.

Ross was born in Whitton, Frontenac (Eastern Townships) Quebec on October 5, 1930 to Cyrille Gilbert and Amanda Garand. His siblings were Armand, Robert, Lionel, Leo, Fernand, Grace, Aurelien and Roland.

Ross was deeply loved and cherished by his family, Ruth’s family, nieces and nephews, as well as Ross and Ruth’s community of friends. Everyone will dearly miss him, but we are comforted knowing he had a long and active life and left a great impression on many.

Ross met Ruth at the Kapuskasing Curling Club in 1959 and they were married on November 9, 1963 in Kapuskasing, Ontario.

Ross attended the Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre in Dorset for Ontario Forest Technical School and Lands Certificate training and education.  He had a rewarding and successful career of over 38 years with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (formerly the Department of Lands and Forests), working in Kapuskasing, Parry Sound, Lindsay and Huntsville.  From 1973 until his retirement in 1989, Ross was the Algonquin Region Lands Administration Manager responsible for Crown Land, working out of the Huntsville location.

Ross enjoyed and was passionate about sports, particularly hockey (a lifetime Montreal Canadiens fan), curling, golf, lacrosse and baseball.  Ross had four career holes-in-one in golf and tremendously enjoyed golfing with friends following his retirement in 1989 and up to and including the 2020 golf season.   An avid member of the Huntsville Curling Club from 1973 to 2018, he completed a term as Club President, won the 1978 Muskoka Lakes Men’s Bonspiel, helped develop and participated in the Muskoka Masters (curlers over 60 years of age) and Muskoka Grand Masters (curlers over 70 years of age) Curling Leagues, participated at the Ontario Grand Masters Provincial Curling Championships in 2009 and 2011 (winning the Second Event), skipped the 2017 Muskoka Lakes Mixed Bonspiel champions and won the 2018 South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club Competitive Mixed Club Championship at the age of 87 with his son Jeff.

Ross was a proud hockey, curling and lacrosse Dad, supporting and cheering on Jeff and his teammates.  He completed a term as the President of the Huntsville Minor Lacrosse Association, was the Team Manager of the 1980 Huntsville Bantam “C” Hawks Canadian Lacrosse Champions, Team Manager of the 1982 Huntsville Midget “B” Hawks Ontario and Canadian Lacrosse Champions and the Team Manager of the 1987 Huntsville Junior “B” Hawks Founder’s Cup Canadian Championship Bronze Medalists who were inducted into the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

Ross also believed in community involvement and was a member of the Kinsmen Club, volunteered for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Table Soup Kitchen and was a Huntsville Trinity United Church Trustee and Treasurer of Council.

Ross was the consummate family man, providing for and spending much quality time with Ruth and Jeff, loving his family and enjoying many wonderful family holidays, vacations and trips.

In his own words, Ross had a wonderful life. He always had a positive outlook and was proud of and loved his family. He was known for his smile, kindness and being a true gentleman.  The world would be a kinder and better place if there were more people like Ross.

We wish to thank with the deepest gratitude Dr. Aoki, Dr. MacMillan and the caring nursing staff at the Huntsville Hospital for the excellent care that Ross had during his stay.

The family are planning a service to be held at Trinity United Church in Huntsville at a time when we are all able to gather and celebrate Ross. Rest in peace beloved one!

In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Huntsville Hospital Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.