Gary Brian Mittelholtz of Grand Bay-Westfield, husband of M. Teresa (Bruce) Mittelholtz, died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 13, 2010 enjoying his favorite pastime, skiing in the back country with his friends on a beautiful sunny day. Gary was born in Toronto on May 28, 1954, the son of Norbert Mittelholtz and the late Irene Mittelholtz. He graduated with a Radio and Television Arts Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto in the spring of 1977 and started his career with CBC Radio in Toronto the following month. In January of 1982 Gary moved to Thompson, Manitoba, again working with the CBC, and subsequently moved on to Saint John in March of 1986, where he spent the remainder of his career with the CBC. During his years at CBC Saint John he hosted the popular Rolling Home Show and Main Street, as well as contributing news and public interest stories. After retiring from the CBC in December, 2008, Gary purchased the River Valley News in Grand Bay-Westfield. Always an entrepreneur at heart, he was involved in many ventures in media, including pod-casting, and audio-visual services through his company, Midwood Media. An active member of his community, Gary belonged to the Grand Bay-Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and was a founding member of the Canada Day Half Marathon in Grand Bay. He was a member of the YMCA for many years, as well as the Y’s Mens Club, and sat on various committees over the years. He was a member of St. Matthew’s Church, Grand Bay, and had recently joined the Knights of Columbus. In his leisure time, Gary was a tremendous outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed all types of skiing, including downhill, cross-country, and back-country skiing. He also enjoyed walking with Teresa, kayaking, hiking, and running, as well as reading and travelling. Family outings often included trips to New River Beach and Bald Peak to enjoy the landscape and hike the trails. His entire life, summers were always spent at the family cottage on Otter Lake, Ontario, where Gary enjoyed the serenity and beauty of the area, not to mention his daily sauna. Always a thinker and dreamer, Gary kept an ambitious “to-do” list, often making notes about an upcoming report or project in which he wanted to be involved, the most recent being the Blueberry Hill Nature Trust project. A true inspiration and valued colleague, Gary’s presence will be missed in his community and the rest of the province. Gary is survived by his loving family; his wife Teresa, to whom he had been married for 32 years; his father, Norbert Mittelholtz and his wife Norma of Burlington, Ontario; his children, Christine Mason (Greg), Erin, Brendan, and Rory; his adoring grandchildren, Ava and Will; his father-in-law, Gordon Bruce of Embro, Ontario; and several brothers and sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Gary was predeceased by his mother Irene and by his mother-in-law, Clare Bruce.
Resting at Brenan’s Bay View Funeral Home, 1461 Manawagonish Road, Saint John West, with visiting on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00 AM from St. Matthew’s Church, Dollard Drive, Grand Bay. Interment will take place in St. Augustine’s Cemetery at a later date. For those who wish, the family would appreciate your prayers or Mass Intentions, or a remembrance to the Blueberry Hill Nature Trust Fund, in lieu of flowers. www.bayviewfh.com.