Obituary of Gail Lewis Smith Straker

Smith Straker, Gail Lewis (nee Baird) Passed away on March 28, 2006, after a brief illness at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Dearly loved wife of Wallace Rodney Straker of Toronto and Cobourg. Daughter of the late Irene Pearl Baird and the late David H. Baird. Granddaughter of the late Chris and Hilda Johnson. Gail is survived and lovingly remembered by her former husband, Thomas Edward (Ted) Smith and their three children: Muriel Jarvis (Tim) of St. Andrews, N.B., Victoria Smith Moffatt (Blair) of Rothesay, N.B. and Raymond Smith (Marie) of New York City. She is the cherished grandmother of 7 grandchildren: Zoe Walker of Calgary, Jordan Walker of New Zealand, Teddy and Amelia Moffatt of Rothesay, N.B., along with Constance, Christopher and Corin Smith of New York City. Gail leaves a sister, Norma Clumpus Delean (Lucien) and a brother David C. Baird. She is fondly remembered by her nephew and nieces Joey, Karen Clumpus and Jenny Clumpus Gross. Gail was born in Sudbury, Ontario and raised in Ottawa. She graduated from the Elmwood Girls School and then attended Carleton University. Gail and her former husband Ted lived in Quebec and Oakville for many years, where they raised their family. During these years, Gail returned to school and graduated from the Ontario College of Art. She served as Director and Chairperson on the Board of Gairloch Gardens and the Art Gallery in Oakville while serving on the Board of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropies. Gail also served on the Board of the Cultural Advisory Committee for MetroToronto and served as past Director with the Ontario Association for Curriculum Development. She was a past member of the Canadian Public Relations Society and the Toronto Downtown Rotary Club. An avid supporter of the Arts, Gail was past Director of Development and Alumni affairs at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. Gail served as deputy Executive Director for UNICEF Canada and coordinated fund raising programs to help children in third world countries, notably during the Year of the Child, when she organized multiple events involving dignitaries and personalities from around the world. For years, Gail worked tirelessly to promote UNICEF�s fund raising efforts, organizing conferences and delegations in Canada and abroad. She later held the position of Vice President and Director of Development at CESO (Canadian Executive Services Organization). Until the past few years, Gail was responsible for fund raising and corporate events as Director of Marketing with Save the Children - Canada. Most recently, she had been President of the Art Gallery of Northumberland County in Cobourg and Port Hope where she and her husband Rod have a home, Castle Hill, and are supporters of the Gallery. They also maintain a residence in Toronto. With her many professional accomplishments, she was, above all, a loving and devoted mother to her family. She will be deeply missed by her family and remembered in the hearts of her many friends in Canada and around the world. The family would like to thank her doctors, nurses and the committed and caring staff at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 1st at 2 o�clock in the CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, 162 Bloor Street West at Avenue Road in Toronto. Interment will take place in the spring at the family plot in Park Lawn Cemetery in Sudbury, Ontario. If desired, donations in Gail�s memory may be made to Mount Sinai Hospital Fund, c/o Gail Lewis Smith Straker, 600 University Avenue, Suite #210, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5.