R. John Gibson died at home on Saturday morning, May 7th, 2016. Greatly missed by his wife Judy and wonderful daughters Caroline and Mary Jane. He loved fish and fishing and made the study of salmonids his profession, following education at St. Peter's School, York, England; Trinity College, Dublin University; Dalhousie, Western, and Waterloo in Canada (he was awarded his Ph.D. in 1973). St. Peter's School, York, is the oldest public school in England. John loved to tell his family that Guy Fawkes Day was not celebrated at the school because the famous conspirator was an 'Old Boy;' John was born in Bombay, India, the son of Major Robert Boyce Gibson and Kathleen Gibson. John's family were Irish on both sides except for his maternal grandmother. John spent summer holidays in Ireland with his grandparents, aunts and uncles and two cousins, Dorothy Fox in Ealing, west London, UK, and Enid Crush in Toronto and their husbands; and by the Burbidge family ((three generations following Dorothy) and Niall Fox). Besides close relationships with them all he made many friends with whom he kept in touch all his life. He and his brother William (d. 2011 at the age of 70) looked upon Eric Thompson of York as another brother, Tony Wilson who rowed with John at TCD was a close friend who visited John's home in St. John's twice in recent years; the two of them cycled around the coast of Ireland together in 1997 and 1998 following John's retirement from DFO. Another TCD friend, Tom Molyneux, visited John in Quebec and Newfoundland. He kept up with a score of other old friends on frequent trips to visit his only sibling, brother William, until William's death in 2011 shortly before his 71st birthday. William's widow Ruth and daughters Natascha and Tanya, with her sons Michael, John and Charlie loved "Uncle John". John's interest in Nature was the force that drove him; he cared deeply about pristine rivers and lakes, tree cover and natural debris for fish cover, no development along riverbanks, natural streams left above ground, biodiversity and sustainability, honesty in science and politics, and preservation of habitat amongst many other issues. He was a 24-hour a day scientist to the end, recording his observations with cameras and copious notes in which were published in news media and scientific journals. He was unafraid of confronting the agents of destruction wherever he found them, but always calmly, with the factual data which impressed accompanied by passion and courtesy, His advice and expertise were sought in all the positions which he held, from his time as a graduate student in New Brunswick, and Ontario, and his work in Manitoba, Massachusetts, and Newfoundland, His interests continued and he was an active environmental advocate in Dublin after his retirement in 1997; but he returned to St. John's because he loved the province, and was unable to persuade wife Judy to leave it. He published over 90 papers; the most recent one was accepted the week of his death. It was an impressive accomplishment for a man of 85. The dialysis staff (both nurses and doctors) were able to prolong his life for nine years, and his athletic activities continued until he was 83, in sliding seat rowing on Quidi Vidi Lake, swimming, cross-country skiing, hiking, and occasional skating (which he took up at the age of 30). He was a man who lived outdoors and whose mind and heart embraced a love for all living things. He died as he had lived, a loving, loyal, intelligent, funny and kind man, who is greatly missed. John is survived by his wife Judy (nee Maclellan) and daughters Caroline (partner Walt Trisdale) and Mary Jane (husband Josh Chambers) in the USA; and by sister-in-law Ruth Gibson, Natascha and Tanya (and sons Michael, John and Charlie) in England; beloved cousins Dorothy Fox (Niall) in England, and Enid Crush (Phil) in Toronto; also David Fox, and Sue and Laurence Burbidge, Mark, Ellen, Sean; and Ellen's children Georgia and Vincent in England. Survived also by sister-in-law Janet Toole and by niece Rachel and husband Martin, by Kaithan and Brhaen Baird, and Gordon Huntly, in New Brunswick and niece Elizabeth Toole in Whistler, BC; and his friends in the UK and Ireland, Canada and the United States, Sweden, Finland and Holland, Australia and the Far East. Friends and colleagues are invited to join the family at John's home, 58 The Boulevard, for a celebration of his life on the afternoon of May 28th, at 2:00 p.m. No flowers by request. John would love it if his legacy were to encourage people to care for the planet, preserve habitat and biodiversity, fresh water, and to fight climate change. To view the online memorial guest book or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.barretts.ca.