Obituary of Dr. William George Gawman

William George (Bill) Gawman MD, FRCP, DABR

March 18, 1930 – July 20, 2017

Bill died on Thursday, July 20, 2017, in the Freeport palliative unit of Grand River Hospital in Kitchener. His gentle passing eased our pain.

Bill was born at home on Grant Street, in Toronto, eighty-seven years ago, one of eight siblings. His family was poor, but he worked hard at school and various part-time jobs and with the help of scholarships achieved great success. In 1955, Bill graduated from the University of Toronto medical school. His childhood ambition “to help people” was realized.

While working at a TB sanitorium in Sudbury, he discovered Radiology. As he would tell us – “the best specialty in the world.” After four years of study at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan, he wrote his specialty exams (Canadian and American) and became a radiologist. Over the years, he practised in Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo and Fergus and retired at 81.

Bill had two great loves in his life, radiology and his family. He was married for 60 years to his wife Ann. Every day he let her know that she was beautiful. In their 60 years together, they created a Gawman dynasty. They had four daughters and one son: Catherine (Andrew Dean), Audrey (John Hill), Ruth, Sarah and Eric (Beverly Sauer). Bill adored his children and was wildly proud of them.

A next generation of five grand-daughters arrived: Teresa, Rachel, Alice, Christina and Amanda. Happily, Bill had enough love to encompass “the darlings”and they loved him back.

Bill’s love grew as the number of great-grandchildren grew. They are eight: Lily, Kobe, Desmin, Jayden, Jahtay, Aneesa, Maddix and Maverick.

Bill enoyed life. He played tennis, golf and pickleball. He studied Spanish and French right up to the end. A voracious reader, he was always buying the latest mystery novel and the biggest new book on radiology.

We miss our Dad, but we know he did not want to live an increasingly confined life, and we are happy that he is now free from these confines.

Bill was fortunate that his final days were spent in Freeport’s palliative unit – a beautiful and restful place. The staff are remarkable: kind, caring and professional. Thank you. Thank you.

A memorial reception will be held in the Fireside Room of the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Thursday, August 3, 2017 from 6-8 p.m.

Condolences for the family and memorial donations to Jumpstart or Anselma House may be arranged by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.