R.I.P. Gord Sanderson aka grouchy

Intentional Left Bank · Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:15 am

Gordon Sanderson has been lost at sea and presumed drowned. His wife called me and asked me to let his aviation friends know.

Gord worked for a number of NWOntario operators between 1998 and 2003, including Lockhart and Bearskin. Since then he was working seasonally for float operators in Manitoba and tinkering in his garage on his airplane the rest of the time.

Gord was a loyal friend, and a good man. He leaves behind a young widow.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... nal/Canada

Phlyer · Post by **Phlyer** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:19 am

That's sad news. Condolences to the family; Rest In Peace.

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:22 am

what a sad news. The Sea took him, not the Sky...RIP

dork_1 · Post by **dork_1** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:29 am

Gord was a great friend. I will truly miss him. My heart goes out to Kana and the rest of his family. It just isn't fair.

Mclovin · Post by **Mclovin** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:00 am

I met Gord a few times in the late 90s was always such a nice guy and had a great passion for aviation, Im sure he will be missed by many. Take care Gord.

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:22 am

Excellent human being he was from what I know. To his friends reading this here, you have my sincerest condolences.

Springbok · Post by **Springbok** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:34 am

This is very sad indeed and my heart goes out to the family.

On a one on one level, Grouchy had taken a personal interest in our situation here in the TCI. We were hammering out some heated personal threads to one another last week and I am glad I did not respond to the last two I received, especially knowing what we know now! I am going to miss his arguements and grouchy attitude. Rest in peace dude.

Out of Control · Post by **Out of Control** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:37 am

My condolences to the family

Post by **avcanada** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:37 am

My condolences to Gordon's family and friends.

I am going to spend sometime re-reading some of his many posts on AvCanada.

God speed

Mitch Cronin · Post by **Mitch Cronin** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:00 am

I also offer my condolences to family and friends...

Good night Grouchy.

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:32 am

Ouch. I was just talking to Gord via email last week. He was "going out to the Maritimes to help a friend move." I have many funny memories of him - starting from the first day we met on the ramp at Red Lake when I said that he "looked pretty old to be an f/o at Bearskin." Without missing a beat, he replied that "I looked pretty young to be an a$$hole." We've laughed about it ever since.

What a way to start my day. I feel like I've been punched in the gut.

My condolences to his family.

Konotabi wa, totsuzen-no. Danna-sama no, goseikyo ni, okaremashitewa, go shu sho-no, kiwamito, okuyami moshi agemasu. Doka, ochikara otoshi no naiyou, gogiaino hodo nengi agemasu.

hypoxic · Post by **hypoxic** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:07 pm

My condolences aswell!
I met Gord in Kasabonika ON and worked with him at 2 different companies. He helped me alot my first year in the bush! It's really sad to hear that he died by drowning! When we worked together he never wanted to fly floats, he said he didn't like the water and counld swim.
Good bye Gord

Flybabe · Post by **Flybabe** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:21 pm

Never met or talked with Gord.. my condolences to family and friends.

Flywest · Post by **Flywest** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:46 pm

What a small world,

I was watching the National last night and saw the article about the accident at Cape Spear. I never would have guessed it was someone I'd worked with in NW Ontario.

Gord had a refreshingly blunt way about him, and a good sense of humour. My condolences to all of his family and friends.

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:08 pm

I'm another who only knew "grouchy" from here. My condolences to the family, and friends, also.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:56 pm

So long sailor. Fair winds.

gelbisch · Post by **gelbisch** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:34 pm

What a shock... I flew with Gord at Bearskin and he was good dude... kept me honest more than once. I haven't talked to him in years but we passed the odd hello back and forth through mutual acquaintances and I always enjoyed hearing what he was up to now.

Just found a nice note he wrote to me in another thread when I was sharing some happy news... and I never even realized it was him. I always meant to write "grouchy" and ask how he knew me... wish I'd done it earlier. What a classy guy.

An awful thing to hear... my condolences to his family... I'll always remember him sneaking smokes behind the terminal in YXL, and wearing that toque in winter that was way too big for him.

Blue skies always, Gord.

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:49 pm

My condolences.

CaptainHaddock · Post by **CaptainHaddock** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:32 pm

l worked with Gord at Lockhart and Bearskin and have been good friends with him ever since.His handle fit, he was grouchy and a straight shooter, he had a quick wit though and a sharp mind.It seems so very quick and unreal. I know I will miss him.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:21 pm

I only knew grouchy through AvCanada, but it still feels like I've lost a part of my family. My condolences to his family.

hanrahan · Post by **hanrahan** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:36 pm

my condolences to his family and friends.

Pratt · Post by **Pratt** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:37 pm

Very tragic.

RIP

Shady McSly · Post by **Shady McSly** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:05 pm

Brutal news.
I worked with him in Sioux Lookout/Cat Lake and he helped me get my next job after Lockhart - he was a top-notch guy, really fun to be around.

Wally3Wheels · Post by **Wally3Wheels** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:35 pm

Had the opportunity to fly with Gord for a short time throughout NW Ontario. Gouchy was a great handle. Always a straight shooter and wasn't afraid to set you in your place if you were out of line! Helped me out and taught me some quick lessons! Dug me out once when I got a plane stuck on the runway at Savant Lake!

He'll be missed.

Best Regards to his family!

dash2/3 · Post by **dash2/3** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:01 pm

I had met Gord on the ramp at ZRJ in the summer of 2001, and shared many laughs with him(mostly him laughing at me and my dearest OCD) while he was doing his turn'rounds. the fondest memory I have was during the 9-11 debacle. his flight happened to be coming into round when the orders came for grounding. he and his captain had to spend a couple of days there, and we(the gang from ZRJ including Rod, Leah and of course Chach) were more than happy to have some "normal" people in our mix. I have a picture that i took of everyone sitting at the table getting ready to chow down on the breakfast that Leah and I had brewed. The strange thing is, I looked at that very picture just last week and wondered what he was up to....

Gord was first class, to me anyways, we shared a some good whisky and even better laughs that night despite everyone feeling down about the whole 9-11 thing.

Gord was instrumental in setting up an interview for me with the bear. He just kept bugging the hell out everyone in YXL, saying I should be given an interview this and that. It worked, but I somehow fucked it up and was passed over. I reckon they did me a favour with the changes at the bear, I wouldn't have been there too long anyway.

Gord, thanks again, for everything.
I had the pleasure of meeting your family once briefly and my condolences go out to them and all who new you. rest in peace my friend. We'll drink and bullshit again.......

moderators reading this, any objections to me posting a pic of our friend here?

R.I.P. Gord Sanderson aka grouchy

R.I.P. Gord Sanderson aka grouchy

Gord

Gordi

Nasty!