Gary Neal Fenske

Gary Neal Fenske died at home, less than two weeks following his 76th birthday, after a long battle with lung cancer and heart disease.  

Born at the original Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto’s Yorkville district, Gary was the second son of Gordon and Grace Fenske. He is survived by his brother, Wayne Fenske (Melanie Lambertsen), and his sister, Lynn Fenske. 

Gary was an instrumentation engineer who spent his career working in the petrochemical industry. He was also a licensed electrician. Exceptionally handy and endlessly inventive, he was a gifted do-it-yourselfer who was always building, fixing, or improving something. Friends, family, and neighbours knew they could count on Gary to build a deck, repair stairs, construct furniture, or bring malfunctioning snowblowers, lawn mowers, or anything  electrical back to life. He even sewed and reupholstered his boat. 

From an early age Gary had clear goals about what he wanted to earn in life: a Corvette Stingray, a house, and a cruising boat. He acquired all three.  

His love of Corvettes became a powerful force for good. After participating in the early years of the Corvettes For Kids Road Tour, Gary later took over leadership of the event from his friend who had founded it. During Gary’s years at the helm, the annual scenic country drive for Corvette owners raised more than $500,000 to support children with cancer attending Camp Oochigeas in Muskoka.  

In his later years, Gary spent many happy hours aboard his boat, cruising around the Toronto Islands or relaxing dockside at the Queen City Yacht Club on a sunny afternoon. 

Gary will be remembered for his quick wit, great sense of humour, and uncanny talent for mimicking ordinary people—not celebrities but the people he met in everyday life. He was a wonderful cook, famous for an exceptional Caesar salad, and he loved hosting dinner parties. He also loved to dance and was known to win more than a few jive contests along the way. 

A private interment will take place at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be made to Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Oochigeas), a cause that meant a great deal to him. Please click here for more information