Gordon Fredric Hartman

Gordon was a remarkable man. Born in Fraser Lake, BC, on September 20, 1927, he was the fifth in a large family growing up on a hardscrabble, depression-era farm. Despite its challenges, this childhood instilled a deep connection to nature that would ultimately form the foundation of his professional life and an abiding personal philosophy centered on environmental conservation. From his beginnings as a reluctant student in a one-room schoolhouse, he ultimately journeyed to the University of British Columbia to pursue a career in fisheries. He received his PhD in biology in 1964, and embarked on a rich and diverse career in research, university teaching and fish and wildlife management that took him, and his family, across Canada and throughout the world.

After publishing his seminal graduate dissertation on salmonid behaviour and ecology, he worked with the Fish and Wildlife Branch conducting research and assisting graduate students at UBC. He then accepted a position at the University of Guelph teaching fisheries biology from 1968-72, before returning to his native BC. From 1972-77 he served as Regional Supervisor of the Fish and Wildlife Branch in the West Kootenays. During this time he took a leave of absence to spend an incomparable year with his family living in Malawi, on what would prove to be the first of several trips to work on fisheries in Africa. From 1977-80 he served as Director of Wildlife for the Yukon Territorial Government, before returning to the rewards of research as Coordinator of the landmark Carnation Creek Fish-Forestry Study.

Although Gordon officially retired from his position as a government scientist in 1986, he continued to work on many projects, including teaching and supervising graduate students at the University of Addis Ababa in 1987-88, serving as a member of the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in Clayoquot Sound from 1993-1995, and returning to Malawi in 1997-98 for the Lake Malawi Biodiversity Conservation Project. In 2004 he contributed to and co-edited the book “Fishes and Forestry - Worldwide Watershed Interactions and Management,” that presented fish-forestry perspectives from scientists from the world over.

Perhaps most importantly, throughout his career and his retirement Gordon felt a strong responsibility to speak publicly about the threats to fish habitat, and natural ecosystems in general, posed by major resource extraction projects such as the Kemano Completion Project, Enbridge pipeline, Old Man River Dam and others. His expertise and principled approach, combined with the scope of his vision, produced scientific assessment and commentary that was an enormous contribution to society.

As productive and fulfilling as his professional life was, family was most important to Gordon. In 1956 he met Helen Isabel Dawdy, a young schoolteacher from Tilbury, Ontario who was attending summer school at UBC. She was bright, vivacious, and “laughed at his jokes”, and in two short weeks they fell in love and became engaged before she returned east. On Aug 2 1957, one year and many letters later, they married, and together they had three children, Ward, Paul, and Lisa. Following the tragic death of Gordon’s brother Fay, with whom he shared a particularly close bond, and the death soon after of Fay’s wife Joan, Gordon and Helen adopted their infant son Jonathan and embraced him as their own.

Theirs was a partnership for the ages. Gordon would have been the first to say that none of his professional accomplishments would have been possible, or meaningful, without Helen’s loving support and companionship. Much of the time this support came from being together, whether seining carp in the rivers of southern Ontario, shepherding four teenagers to Africa for a year, or travelling the dusty roads of the northern Yukon. Other times, when work or school requirements did separate him from family, he always appreciated that his ability to do this was grounded in the secure knowledge that Helen was there to maintain a loving and stable home. Their marriage of 63 years, and the family they created, was the bedrock of his life.

Gordon was immensely proud of his children. His love for them came through in the many different ways he found to spend time with them and support them in their life. He indulged a shared sense of adventure travelling the Okavango Delta with Ward, and his annual moose hunts with Paul were tremendously special to him. He encouraged Lisa beyond measure with her studies, sharing his knowledge, wonderful companionship and humour in the field, and to Jon he was, quite simply, a cherished mentor.

In later years, Gordon delighted in his grandchildren’s energy and affection. He indulged Paul’s children (Laura and Sean) and Lisa’s (Sarah, Eric and Max) with a steady supply of pancakes, Rolos, gourmet jelly beans, walks around Buttertubs Marsh, and trips to the Dairy Queen. They will remember him as good-humoured, wise and kind.

When the busy times of career, family and travelling slowed down, Gordon and Helen maintained a welcoming home to friends and family alike. He had endless curiosity and energy, and spent his time birding, expressing his creative side with humorous trophies, gifts and cartoons, and building a vast and unique collection of homemade walking canes. At this time of life it was particularly important to him to maintain the relationships he had formed over his entire life. He reached out regularly to childhood companions from Fraser Lake, to other family members, and to the many wonderful students and colleagues who he was proud to have known and counted as friends.

At the same time, he and Helen met with a small group of local friends daily at Tim’s to share news and solve the world’s problems. As the slow tide of memory loss advanced, this core group of friends was a source of both practical and emotional support. Their fondness for him was revealed in a kindness, compassion and loyalty that was a great gift not only to him, but to his family. If the richness of a man’s life can be seen in the calibre of his friends, then Gordon was wealthy beyond measure.

Gordon was preceded in death by his mother, Eleanor, and his much-admired stepfather, Walter Morley. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen, his four children Ward (Monica), Paul (Gayle), Lisa (Luc) and Jon (Teri), and his grandchildren by Paul (Laura, Sean) and Lisa (Sarah, Eric and Max).

While no memorial service can be held at this time, a gathering will be held at a later date to remember his remarkable life, legacy and enduring bonds of family and friendship. Donations may be made to the environmental charity or organization of your choice.