Obituary of Carl Evert Gall

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” Carl Evert Gall, Professor Emeritus, in Chemical Engineering (University of Waterloo), Varsity Athlete, Polymath and Humanist died March 20, 2017 at age 85 at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Carl was born December 17, 1931 in Burlington, Ontario, third son - and first born in Canada to immigrant parents Jan (John) and Johanna (de Hoop) Gall of Friesland, Netherlands. His depth of love, humanity, ideas and wit will be cherished by his surviving daughters Carlaine, Alison and Suzanne, brother Rudolph (Nancy), family and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine (nee Mertes), daughter Gwendolyn ‘Glendy’, brothers Wessel (Marny surviving), John (Gail surviving), Harold (Maureen), and parents John and Johanna Gall. Carl was a beloved husband, father, uncle and mentor to many who miss him. As a boy he translated Frisian, Dutch and English for his family, and excelled at Latin, French, German, athletics, math and sciences at Burlington High School, and won an engineering scholarship to the Royal Military College ("Dutch" Gall, RMC'53). Carl's "ideas and convictions gained the respect of all and made him pleasing to know." After graduating with a B.A.Sc. '55, University of Toronto, Carl moved to Montreal as a translator for Imperial Oil, where his first daughter, Carlaine, was born in 1956. Inspired by adventure and the love of his wife Elaine, Carl undertook a teaching commission in engineering at the University College of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for four years of educating, building bridges and exploring Africa and Europe. With Elaine and now 2 children (Gwendolyn, born in Addis Ababa) Carl returned to teach at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. In 1960 his third child, Alison, was born while Carl also obtained an M.Sc., 1962, at Queen's University and won a Ford Scholarship. Carl's scholarship in mathematical analysis took him to the University of Minnesota to earn his Ph.D. with Rutherford Aris. There, in 1964 his fourth daughter, Suzanne, was born. That fall, Carl joined the University of Waterloo Chemical Engineering Department where he remained until his retirement. During his tenure, he also played an instrumental role in developing computer technology for engineering education with Hewlett-Packard, in the nascence of "high-tech" at Waterloo. Carl believed that a science education was not enough to understand or live life without a love for the Humanities. His gift for Shakespeare and theatre led him to act at the Stratford Festival (Ontario), in TV, movies and commercials, and to teach and direct award-winning K-W Little Theatre and Theatre of the Absurd productions at the university. With colleagues, family and friends, Carl will be remembered for helping to develop a vital community at Waterloo. Cremation has taken place. Condolences for the family and memorial donations to AMREF Health Africa in Canada may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo at 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com.