David Gordon "Gord" Heard

We sadly announce the passing of Gord at Chester Village on the morning of Wednesday, July 14th, 2021. Born the youngest son of Rodney and Helen Heard, he grew up in Leaside, playing hockey and football. He put himself through university working for Consumers’ Gas and continued his employment there for many years after. He married and had three beautiful children: Chad, Andrew and Robynne whom he wholeheartedly adored. Over the years, life and career paths changed. He married his love, Tish King, and they blended their families – his children with Tish’s daughters, Meaghan and Lauren Coxon. His brood grew up and, in time, Robynne added daughter, Raven, to the family, Chad and Camille added Gibson and Scarlett, and Meaghan and Aamir added Mikhael, Aayla and Zayden, for a total of six grandchildren. He had a lifelong love of and need for music and a consuming interest in the history of World War II. Another passion of his was photography, and many of his pictures adorned his home and then his room at Chester Village. And his guilty pleasures were Star Trek and a wide range of movies.

Tragically, 10.5 years ago, Gord suffered a catastrophic stroke which left him paralyzed on his left side and confined to a wheelchair. Tish valiantly cared for him for the first four years and he has been a resident at Chester Village since then. We would like to thank sincerely the wonderful doctors, nurses, personal support workers and staff at Chester Village for the compassionate care they have given Gord during his time there. They have done an amazing job of keeping the coronavirus out of the facility during this pandemic, and everyone is grateful for that. It was absolutely the right thing to do. However, this achievement has not been without its sacrifices. For many months, the residents were not allowed to go out or to have any visitors. That has been extremely lonely and difficult. Once the restrictions on visitors were eased somewhat this spring, Gord was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Measures were put into place to keep him as comfortable as possible and able to see as many of his family as could visit him. This has also been very difficult. He leaves behind his siblings Marion (Bob), Don and Norm and his in-laws Marjut, Doll, Harry (Heather), Cece (Joe) and Fred (Peggy), plus many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins, along with his buddy Gerry who was his “technical support” person over the years. Gord will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held for close family at a later date.