Charles Frederick Gill
May 5, 1949 - December 2, 2019
On Monday, December 2, 2019, Charles Frederick Gill, died at age 70 after a valiant battle with colon cancer. He is survived by his beloved and supportive wife, Carol Witt Garnett; two stepsons, Matthew and Andrew Garnett; his father Frank Harry Gill; four children (with Elizabeth Gill), Grant, Graham, Krista (Gill) Stevens, and Angela Gill; four grandchildren, Tesha and Aidan Stevens, Abigail and Hannah (Gill) Anguiano; and by sisters Frances (Gill) Oppertshauser and Cynthia (Gill) Anthony.
“Charlie” was born in Toronto, CA, on May 5, 1949. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1973 and began his business career as a Chartered Accountant. He worked for Peoples Jewelers Limited, CA, from 1973 to 1993 where he held the positions of Executive Vice President, CFO, and Director from 1986 - 1991, and President from (1991 - 1993). He led the successful tender offer for Zale Corporation (US) and became the Assistant to the President and a Director of Zales from 1986 - 1992 He was co-owner of the Jemms Group, CA, from 1993 - 1996. From 1996 until retirement in 2010 he was the Vice President, US Development, for the Royal Group International. This position created the opportunity for him to move to the United States. He resided in
St. Petersburg, FL, where he lived until his death.
A self-taught Duplicate Bridge player, he won the American Contact Bridge League’s national Mini-McKinney Bronze Life Masterpoints Race in 2004, and attained the rank of Sapphire Life Master before his death. His love of bridge coupled with his positive, friendly approach to business resulted in his development of the St. Petersburg Bridge Club over a fourteen year period. His vision was to unify a small group of separately owned games under one management creating one of the 50 largest bridge clubs in the United States. As President and Club Manager from 2005 until 2014 he raised more than $500,000 enabling the club to purchase its playing space and securing its future as a member-owned club. He remained Club Manager until his death. He was a member of the ACBL Board of Governors, and Florida’s District 9 and Unit 128 Board of Governors. He was chosen Volunteer of the Year by the ACBL in 2011.
While other Interests included tennis and chess, he was an avid supporter of children who were neglected, abused and abandoned. For more than a decade he served as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem serving children in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. His commitment to child welfare was reflected in his decision to adopt four children in Canada.
Charlie was an incurable optimist. He reached hundreds of people daily throughout the world when he began to blog about his “colon cancer journey” in the spring of 2017. His blog and recently published book, Red Shirts and Rubber Duckies, Surviving Cancer with a Smile, offers cancer patients, caregivers, support groups, relatives and friends insight and practical guidance seasoned with Charles’ special brand of gentle humor.
Optimism is the belief that "good things will happen to you and that negative events are temporary setbacks to be overcome." When one combines optimism with integrity you have "a person who seeks the best outcome in every situation, while being honest and forthright about the facts of situations as they exist." To optimism and integrity add kindness, loyalty, friendliness, love of his fellow man and mix these qualities together with a large measure of whimsy and you have Charles Gill.
In celebration of Charlie’s life, The Charles Gill Memorial Game will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020, at the St. Petersburg Bridge Club, 9103 U.S. Highway 19 N., Pinellas Park, FL 33782, Beginning at 5:00 PM there will be dinner, followed by tributes, special memories and bridge.
Dinner reservatiions may be made by email to: andrew@bridgecentric.com
In Canada a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2020, at 1:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, 812 Hortop Street, Oshawa, Ontario, with a reception to follow.
Memorial Contributions may be made in Charlie’s name to the Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit organization providing direct support to needy and neglected children in the local welfare system. Contributions can be made through the secure Internet link: herotoachild.org.
