Obituary of Gordon Russell Hinch

 

GORDON RUSSELL HINCH

December 21, 1930 – April 8, 2021

 

Our dear Gordon died peacefully in his home, as was his wish.  A descendent of original Ontario settler families, Gordon Hinch lived almost all his life in Toronto, save for short periods in Hamilton, Ontario and New York City.  His father, Sydney, served in both world wars, was badly wounded at Vimy and died in the service in 1943.  He was raised by his widowed mother, Audrey, and grandmother, Libby Willoughby.

 

Gordon was married for fifty years to his beloved Pauline Hinch (nee Chorniuk) who died in May, 2008.  He is survived by his cherished son Douglas, and his sister-in-law Mary Chorniuk.

 

Gordon attended Winchester Street and Palmerston Avenue public schools, graduated from Harbord Collegiate in 1949 and in later years, attended McMaster University and the New York School of Radio and Television Arts.

 

He spent most of his working life in and around broadcasting and, to a much lesser degree, the theatre.  In the early years he wrote, produced and directed radio and television commercials, finishing that part of his career as Media and Broadcast Manager for the New York advertising agency Kenyon and Eckhardt.  In 1957 he joined CBC television, working first as a unit manager, then in network programming and finally as a drama producer. 

 

For well over a decade he wrote, directed and produced educational and public relations motion pictures for Imperial Oil, acting as well as the executive producer for a series of motion pictures for television called THE NEWCOMERS/LES ARRIVANTS which was widely distributed in educational institutions for decades.

 

From 1982 until his retirement in 1991, he was the president of Gemstone Productions, an independent television, motion picture and theatre company.  Together with his partners Leon Major and the late Joe Green, he produced a number of plays, one of which was the major hit THE DINING ROOM.  This was followed by a year off managing The Canadian Stage Company.

 

Returning to Gemstone, he produced GLORY ENOUGH FOR ALL, a long form television motion picture series, the first such Canadian series to be shown on prime time British TV, as well as on both CBC networks.  It remains the only Canadian drama series to ever be shown on PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre.  GLORY won nine Geminis in 1988, including best mini-series of the year.

 

Pauline and Gordon lived in Don Mills, except for their retirement winters, which were spent in France, Italy and Portugal.  They were early Bruce Trail end-to-enders, gardeners who loved walking, movies and plays, music and books of most kinds, and Gothic buildings.

 

Following Pauline’s death, Gordon was sustained by a small group of friends:  Alan and the late Sonia Leslie, Honni and Peter Tiedemann, Beth and Bill McCracken, the Klein family, John Shepherd, Trina Cornelissean, Deborah Shields and Andy Tiedemann, and especially his beloved long-time buddy Frima Karon of Minneapolis.

 

“What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross”   Ezra Pound

 

“Since well I’ve played my part

Clap now your hands

And, with applause

Dismiss me from the stage”   Augustus

 

Following Gordon’s wishes, there will not be a funeral or memorial.  If you wish to make a memorial tribute, donations to The Pauline and Gordon Hinch Endowment Fund of the Toronto Public Library would be greatly appreciated.  Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.

 

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