Celebration of Life
Obituary of David Kingston Gresh
It is with an aching in our hearts that we share that David Gresh died on March 18th in Saint John after a brave battle. He was surrounded by his four children, Nick, Sara, Gilly and Lizzy and the love of his life, Jane when he left this world with Gordon Lightfoot softly playing.
David was born in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania in 1955. He moved to Rothesay, New Brunswick in 1960 but Philadelphia was always a special place for him filled with memories of visiting his cousins and grandparents. Shortly after moving to Canada, Dave met his best friend, Malcom Stanley. They cruised the streets and trails of Rothesay developing a shared love of the outdoors. Dave attended Rothesay Collegiate School and quickly established his friend family. Thank you to the old boys: Mal Stanley, Jack MacDougall, Roy Redgrave, Malcom MacCaulay, and Jack Stephen (to name a few) who celebrated 50 years of friendship with Dave at their RCS reunion last summer.
David met his wife, Jane, while at Dalhousie University in Halifax from which he graduated in 1977 with a BCom. He went on to get his CA (CPA) designation and worked at various firms including Gresh & Gresh with his big brother Bill. He later ran a successful accounting practice out of his home for over 25 years. Jane and Dave made a beautiful life together in Rothesay. David adored his wife and cherished the simple moments with his growing family. Walks to the brook, watching sports, playing tennis on his homemade clay court, Sunday dinners and birthday celebrations hosted by Jane were a few of his favourites. Dave was famous for watching movies and eating unlimited popsicles with his grandchildren. He supported his family’s passions and didn’t like to miss a game, art show, play or any significant moment. He recently attended a ceremony celebrating his grandson Davy’s poetry award at the Legion and was a very proud grandad. He played hockey for many years with Ben’s Hockey and always had a guitar close by.
David spent his summers at Duck Cove playing tennis and swimming in the ocean with his family and later at his beautiful cottage at New River Beach where he made countless memories with family and friends. He was a tennis enthusiast, winning many tournaments and supporting the club on the executive for years. He was recently awarded an honorary lifetime membership to the Rothesay Tennis Club. In 2018, he and his son Nick travelled to Wimbledon, and camped in line for four days to finally get front row tickets on Centre Court.
Fishing was also a lifelong passion. David fished the lakes and rivers of this beautiful region including the Cascapedia in Quebec, the Miramichi, Dick’s Lake and his beloved Moss Glenn fishing camp with his good friend, Jake Lemesurier. His grandchildren and children will always cherish catching their first fish with their grandad. This past summer David travelled to Labrador by float plane to fulfill a lifelong dream of fishing the remote waters of Igloo Lake.
Dave made the life of his wife, children, and grandchildren magical. He organized the best family camping trips and ski trips. He attended many professional sporting events with his dude, Nick. For his 60th birthday he travelled to Yukon and Alaska to experience out of this world wildlife sightings with his nature girls, Gilly and Lizzy. David loved his getaways to the remote island of Vieques with Jane and their dear friends, Roy and Joanne. His final gift to his family was a beautiful tree house he built on his property in Rothesay, completed in time for his grandchildren to eat their thanksgiving dinner in the trees.
David is survived by his wife of over 45 years, Jane, his children Nick (Heather) Gresh, his “miracle girl”, Sara (Andrew) Branch, Gilly Gresh, Lizzy (Matt McGuire) Gresh, his brother Bill (Dolly) Gresh, his sisters, Francie (Gresh) Phinney and Tina Taylor (Eric Overing) and sister-in-law, Cheryl Gunn, who all came to be with him during his final weeks. David is also survived by many nephews, nieces, and loving Gresh and Kingsley cousins. He was predeceased by his mother, Sally Gillmor Scovil (Gresh/Taylor), his dad William Kooser Gresh III who died when he was only 4 months old, his stepfather Fred Taylor and his brother-in-law, Mel Burtt. David, also known as, “The Bald Eagle,” leaves behind the lights of his life, his “snoots”, Davy, Sally, and Ryan Branch, Quinnie, Zoe and Isla McGuire and his Lola.
David will be missed beyond measure. He will live on in the hearts of the family he loved so dearly. Donations in memory of David can be made to the David K. Gresh Scholarship Fund at Rothesay Netherwood School.
We invite family and friends to a celebration of life on Thursday March 28th, at 10am at Rothesay Netherwood School Chapel. Reception to follow at Shadow Lawn Inn.
