Feature article December 2, 2004
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George Pearce(June 16, 1935 - November 27, 2004)
Tributes have been pouring in after it was learned that George Pearce died of cancer this past Saturday, culminating in a funeral that was attended by an overflow crowd at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Sharbot Lake on Tuesday afternoon. Reverend Bruce Geddes presided over the funeral of his friend, colleague, and mentor on what was coincidentally both St. Andrews day and the day of Bruces own retirement after 16 years as minister at St. Andrews.
George was 
a minister who became a teacher, Bruce Geddes said, while I was a teacher who became a minister. Bruce recalled how he had personally been supported over the years by George, in particular when Bruces own son was ill in Europe and George took over his duties at the church for a time.
Friends and colleagues Pam Giroux, Gary Giller, Colleen Allison and Madeleine Tarasick all spoke at the funeral.
Pam Giroux, who was twice married to George Pearce on stage with the North Frontenac Little Theatre, said he had made his first appearance with the amateur company in 1981 as a member of the barbershop quartet in Music Man, and quickly got the acting bug. The crowd nodded as Pam said she considered that Georges greatest role with the Little Theatre was Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He was particularly believable when he was talking to God, she said. She also mentioned, as have others who shared the stage with George over the years, how safe they felt acting with him. He was so well prepared, knew his lines and the other parts as well, that you knew whatever happened, everything would work out. A year ago, George Pearce directed The Foursome, a play by Norm Foster, whose work he brought to the Little Theatre.
Although he as quite ill by the time the 25th Anniversary Dinner of the Little Theatre took place this past September, George attended the first part of the event, and sang Sabbath Prayer with Pam Giroux and other members of the cast from the Fiddler on the Roof production.
When Gary Giller arrived at Sharbot Lake High School in the late 70s, George Pearce had already been at the school for ten years, and Gary remembers how George and his wife Ruth welcomed him and his wife Pam to the community.
He remarked how important George Pearce was to the high school community and to the broader community, particularly in his dual roles of minister and educator.
As a teacher he knew that he had to befriend his students before he could teach them the curriculum, Gary Giller said.
He christened us, he taught us, he married us, and he buried us, Gary Giller concluded, summing up the dual community roles George Pearce had as an educator and minister.
Georges relationship with his students was demonstrated at the visitation at Goodfellows Funeral Home on Monday night, where a steady stream of former students filed through to pay their respects.
As well as talking about George Pearce the teacher, Colleen Allison spoke of one of Georges great passions, dog sledding. He was known as the mushing minister she said, remembering in particular a time when he took her out to the Bell Line road with his dog team. I was on the sled when the dogs came to a hairpin turn at great speed, and the sled turned over and I went flying. George ran over and asked if I was ok, and I said I was. Good he said, now help me get those dogs turned around.
Madeleine Tarasick was the final speaker. She also remembered arriving at Sharbot Lake High School in the late 70s, a little nervous about living in what she considered to be a northern environment at the time, and hearing about this teacher who was a minister who loved dog sledding. Throughout her time at the high school, she recalls periodically seeking the advice of George, or Ruth, who worked for many years at the high school as the school librarian. The wise woman and the wise man, Madeleine Tarasick dubbed them.
George had a great sense of humour, was very kind, and had a tremendous impact on the community. He reminded us how important our little community is and how it must be cherished, Madeleine Tarasick concluded.
As the funeral service ended, a large, sad crowd spilled out of St. Andrews church into the late fall chill on Tuesday afternoon
George Pearce is survived by his wife Ruth, daughters Kathy and Heather, and grandchildren Matthew and Meghan.
