October 19, 1946 – October 16, 2025

The younger son of Margaret Gordon Ramsay and Charles Milne Tinsmith, Gordon was born on October 19th, 1946, in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

He graduated M.B. Ch.B. from Aberdeen University in 1971 and worked in London and Yeovil, England before emigrating to Canada in 1975. He worked in general practice until his retirement in 2016. He was for many years the District Medical Officer for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs/ Veterans Affairs Canada. He was also the attending physician for Pinewood Court, Grandview Lodge, Central Park Lodge, and Bacon Hill Lodge, and served as Medical Director of Hogarth Westmount Hospital prior to hospital amalgamation.

He loved to travel. In 1964, he spent four weeks visiting seven countries with three friends in a Volkswagen camper. He visited Spain, Morocco, and Gibraltar during university holidays and later spent six weeks in New Zealand, where he worked as a locum physician and delivered several Māori babies. In 1979, with his partner, he flew around the world on Pan Am, visiting Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Germany, and Great Britain. He visited many of the Caribbean islands and cruised the South Pacific and Mediterranean, stopping in Greece, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, France, Spain, Tahiti, and Bora Bora. Gordon also spent many vacations in St. Maarten.

He was predeceased by his parents, his nephew Andrew Guyan, and his partner of 44 years, Tim Kelly.

He is survived by his brother Charles (Heather), sister Margaret (John Guyan), and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Gordon passed away peacefully at home in Thunder Bay on October 16th, 2025. At his request, cremation has taken place, and there will be no formal funeral service.

In addition to what Gordon wrote himself, a beautiful reflection of his life, travels, and accomplishments, there was so much more to who he was.

Gordon was one of the kindest, most patient, and most caring souls anyone could ever meet. He had this calm, gentle way of making people feel at ease, and a warmth that drew others in instantly. He was thoughtful, loving, and always saw the good in people. His positivity and grace were steady and constant — whether in his work, his friendships, or his quiet moments at home.

He loved gardening, and it showed. His gardens were filled with life, colour, and care, much like his heart. He had a natural gift for growing just about anything, and his friends often turned to him for gardening advice. He never hesitated to share his knowledge, or a few plants, with anyone who asked. Watching things grow gave him joy, and he was proud of every flower and every harvest.

Gordon loved cooking and having friends and family over. He was happiest when the house was full of laughter, good food, and conversation. He loved to host, and no one ever left hungry, or without a smile.

Some of his most cherished memories were made at his summer cottage on Silver Beach, surrounded by the beauty of Lake Superior. He loved peaceful mornings, afternoons spent in the garden or by the water, and his favourite daily tradition, 4 p.m. wine time. It was never about the wine itself; it was about connection, stories, laughter, and friendship.

He was loved by everyone who knew him, his friends, his family, his colleagues, and even those who met him only once. He had that rare ability to make you feel like you mattered, like you belonged. He also loved playing cribbage, and his quiet competitiveness was always mixed with humour and charm.

Even as his world grew smaller, he stayed closely connected with family through his weekly FaceTime calls with loved ones in Britain and the United States. Those conversations meant everything to him, a way to bridge distance with love and laughter.

Gordon was grateful every single day for the people in his life. He often said it would take endless pages to name everyone who made an impact on his journey, and all those whose lives he, in turn, touched. His generosity, compassion, love, care, kindness, and positivity were his constant gifts to the world.

He lived life with an open heart and a beautiful simplicity. He found joy in the small things – a perfect meal, a blooming plant, a good conversation, the sound of waves at Silver Beach, and the people he loved most.

His memory will live on in the gardens he tended, the friendships he cherished, the lives he cared for, and the love he gave so freely.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice in Gordon’s memory, a gesture that reflects the kindness and generosity that defined his life.

Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com