CHILDS, GERRY - James Gerald "Gerry" Childs of Hanwell (Fredericton), NB, formerly of Saint John, passed away on Friday, February 17, 2012 at The Doctor Everett Chalmers Hospital, in Fredericton, NB following a 19 year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 74. Born in Saint John, NB, on January 20, 1938, he was the son of the late Vincent and Florence (nee Belmont) Childs. Gerry worked as a journalist for New Brunswick Publishing for many years, starting as a cub reporter with the Telegraph Journal/Evening Times Globe in 1956, and retiring as Executive Editor in 1998. Gerry was a journalist who could expect to have his telephone call returned whether he was trying to get in touch with the premier, a senior business executive, or someone who might be just another news contact. They got back to Gerry because they knew they would get fair treatment -- not necessarily a favourable report -- but a report that had both sides of the story. He was one of the province’s top political reporters in the lively, often hectic and sometimes rowdy times of Premier Louis Robichaud in the 1960s, and later through the interesting times of Richard Hatfield’s governments. His was a crisp, no nonsense style of writing that served the newspaper well and will serve future generations as an important record of our times. During Gerry’s 42 year career with the newspaper he worked as a reporter, journalist, city editor, managing editor, executive editor and feature columnist. In addition to his work for NB Publishing, Gerry wrote for several regional, national and international publications, including Time Magazine, Atlantic Advocate, Financial Post, Toronto Globe & Mail, Readers Digest, McLean’s Magazine and The Montreal Star. He authored the book ‘History of T.S. Simms & Co, Brush & Broom Manufacturing Pioneer’, and co-authored the book ‘Saint John: 200 Years Proud’. Gerry also worked as a writing and public relations consultant and a part time instructor at NB Community College in Saint John. He was a founding member and an executive officer of the NB Legislature Press Gallery; a founding member and officer of The Saint John Press, Radio, & TV Club, and a representative on the Atlantic Press Council. Gerry was an award winning writer being a recipient of the Public Service Editorial Writing Award. Gerry’s other hobby and passion was photography, with thousands of photographs and slides being snapped over the years. He was involved in the Saint John Photography Club, and participated in shooting the 1985 Canada Summer Games in Saint John, and the ‘A Day in the Life of Saint John’ photography project in 1990. Gerry’s photographs were often displayed for sale at galleries such as Impressions in Saint John and Casemates in Fredericton. The culmination of his photographic work was the publication of his photographs in the book ‘This is New Brunswick’ in 1997, a photographic tour of the province Gerry lived in, worked in, and loved. Gerry was a former member of Rothesay Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Finance and was involved in a number of church activities. He was a former member at Lancaster Baptist Church in Saint John for many years, where he served on the Board of Deacons and handled church publicity. He was an active member at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Fredericton, serving on the Board of Finance, as consulting editor of the ‘In Touch’ newsletter, and briefly taught a photography class. He is survived by his wife and love of his life Susanne (nee Irvine), his son Jeff (Erin) Childs of Parksville, BC and their children Mark and Scott, his daughter Allyson (Richard) Magee of Hanwell, NB and their children, Greg (Jessie Yeates), Nathan, Nick, and Colin. He is survived by his twin brother Joe Childs, and brothers Don Childs (Diane), Doug Childs (Betty), Rick Childs (Heather), brother-in-law Stan Irvine (Judy), and sister-in-law Ardene Reid. He was predeceased by a brother Bob Childs (Rose). He is survived by one aunt, Phylliss Fitzpatrick of Grand Bay Westfield as well as many nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of Gerry’s life, followed by a memorial service on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Grace Memorial Baptist Church Welcome Center, 536 Northumberland Street, Fredericton (corner of Connaught and Northumberland). There will be an opportunity to meet with Gerry’s family from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM with the memorial service to follow at 2:00 PM in the main sanctuary. Interment will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to your local Parkinson’s Society or The Grace Memorial Welcome Center or the charity of the donor’s choice.