Gary E. Desroches
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Gary E. Desroches, who left us early morning February 27th at Lakeridge Health Ajax-Pickering Hospital In his 83rd year. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Born, in Oshawa, Ontario, to Joseph (Babe) and Kathleen (Kay) Desroches, Gary moved with his family to Ajax in 1953. It was there that he built his life, becoming a respected and dedicated firefighter for the town of Ajax, a career he proudly served for 29 years, before retiring in 1998. Gary was a recipient of the "Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal" by the Governor General of Canada in 1990. His bravery, commitment and camaraderie with his fellow firefighters defined much of his working life.
Outside of his career, Gary found joy in vacationing and touring the world with his wife Marion and their many friends. He loved playing golf (when he was playing well) and spent countless hours on the course enjoying time with those he loved. A passionate sports fan, he was a die-hard supporter of the Toronto Blue Jays. He avidly followed any Canadian athlete competing on the international stage or in any pro league outside of Canada. His enthusiasm for sports was infectious and he never missed an opportunity to cheer on his country, countrymen or his favorite sports team.
Above all else, Gary was a family man. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Marion (McCosh), his son Lance (Karen) and his daughter Nikki. He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Chanse, Brolin and Brady, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Brian Desroches (Sherri). Gary was predeceased by his beloved sister Shirley Tait and brother-in-law Robert Tait. He will be fondly remembered, and greatly missed by his many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Gary was a man of integrity, warmth and unwavering loyalty. He was extremely social and enjoyed a beer or rye in the company of friends and/or family. He leaves behind a lifetime of cherished memories. His love, guidance, and humor will be deeply missed but forever treasured by those who had the privilege of knowing him.
The family would like to thank the emergency department and 2 West staff at LHAP, who treated and cared for Gary over the last two years of his healthcare journey.
A celebration of Gary's life will be held on Friday, April 4th at the Ajax Legion 111 Hunt St from 2-6pm. We welcome family and friends to gather to honor and remember the incredible man he was.
Gary's legacy of kindness, courage, and devotion will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, and keeping with Gary's love of sports, donations can be made in Gary's memory, to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program, which benefits the children of families in financial need, and to give them the opportunity to participate in the sports Gary was so passionate about.
our hearts and prayers are with you all Marion and family. Such a wonderful man!
Bill Robertson Seagrave On March 30, 2025
A deep appreciation for Gary and his family for serving the people of Ajax.
President APFFA
Clive Deonarine Ajax March 22, 2025
To Marion and family. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Sending my sincere condolences. R.I.P. Gary
donna newson lane ajax March 20, 2025
RIP Gary. You will certainly be missed.
Thinking of you and your family.
Bill Sibeon Sr. Huntsville March 14, 2025
Please may your family accept my condolences. I had the pleasure of meeting Gary in the past at Ajax Fire Department events/socials prior ...
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Please may your family accept my condolences. I had the pleasure of meeting Gary in the past at Ajax Fire Department events/socials prior to his retirement. Gary and my hubby Paul Ritchie worked together for many years, hopefully they’re in heaven together playing a round of golf.
Patricia Ritchie Uxbridge March 12, 2025
Patricia Ritchie Uxbridge March 12, 2025
RIP Gary, you will be missed. Condolences to the family.
Tony Canning Whitby March 12, 2025
Sorry to hear about Gary. We are thinking of you and your family.
Hilda and Gord Shaw Ajax March 12, 2025
Our sincere condolences to Marion,
Lance, Nikki and families, at this difficult time. Cherish all your wonderful memories.
Alan & Berni...
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Our sincere condolences to Marion,
Lance, Nikki and families, at this difficult time. Cherish all your wonderful memories.
Alan & Bernice
Alan & Bernice King Hamiota, Manitoba March 10, 2025
Alan & Bernice King Hamiota, Manitoba March 10, 2025
My sincere condolences to Marion and family.
R.I.P. Gary
Nancy Campbell Wraight Ajax, ON March 10, 2025
My condolences to the Desroches family. Gary will be missed. R.I.P
Larry Thorn Cobourg March 08, 2025
Marion and Family. I am so sorry to hear about Gary. He was a great guy. Sending you much love.
Lynda Mitchell (McCord) Paudash Lake, Ontario March 07, 2025
Sending our heartfelt condolenses to you Marion and family. He will be missed.
Betty Anne & Bob Verge & Family Onoway Alberta March 06, 2025
I have always had a great deal of respect for Gary. In our times
together he never appeared to get too high or too low on anything. He wa...
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I have always had a great deal of respect for Gary. In our times
together he never appeared to get too high or too low on anything. He was extremely level headed and I always enjoyed his company. Gary you will always be with us.
Tom Flood Ajax March 06, 2025
Tom Flood Ajax March 06, 2025
Rip my golf buddy hit em long and straight rip
Andrew cornwell Ajax March 06, 2025
We are so sorry for your loss. Our condolences to the family. R.I.P. Gary, you will be missed by many.
Joe & Pat Schmidinger Picton March 05, 2025
Our deepest sympathy Marion and family
Richard and Deborah McLean Cobourg March 04, 2025
My deepest sympathy Marion, Lance, Nikki, Brian, Sherri and all the Desroches family. Gary was a wonderful man and friend. He will alway...
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My deepest sympathy Marion, Lance, Nikki, Brian, Sherri and all the Desroches family. Gary was a wonderful man and friend. He will always be
remembered with love.
Cathy Brown Whitby March 04, 2025
Cathy Brown Whitby March 04, 2025
Sincere condolences Marion and family, thinking of you.
Mick & Judy Flynn Whitby March 04, 2025
My sincere condolences to the entire family. xo
Lisa Bignell Toronto March 03, 2025
Dear Marion and family, so sorry for your loss. Our sincere condolences to you all. RIP Gary
Rick & Cathy Jarvis Ajax March 03, 2025
R.I.P. my friend. You have left us with lots of memories.
My deepest condolences to Marion and family.
Joan and Dennis Stride Oshawa March 03, 2025
My sincerest condolences to Marion, Lance, Nicki and the Desroches family. I enjoyed Gary at the firehall as one of my coworkers and mento...
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My sincerest condolences to Marion, Lance, Nicki and the Desroches family. I enjoyed Gary at the firehall as one of my coworkers and mentors. Taught me so much. Enjoyed many ball games and hockey games with him along with golf trips to Niagara and many rounds at Mill Run. Rest in peace “Poncho”
Michael Moffatt Curve Lake March 03, 2025
Michael Moffatt Curve Lake March 03, 2025
My sincere condolences Marion.Thinking of you and your family at this sad time.
Keep those many many fond memories close
Jim Clapp Oshawa March 03, 2025
So sorry - My deepest sympathies to Marion, Lance and Nikki, family and friends.
Sarah Clayton Port Hope March 03, 2025
Our deepest sympathies to you Marion and your family. Gary was a great guy. You had a long happy life together
Phyllis & Doug Balsdon Ajax March 03, 2025
So sorry for your loss,Marion & family.Lots of memories at arenas & ballparks.He will be missed.
John & Susan Mclean Bowmanville March 03, 2025
Sincere condolences and our deepest sympathy to Marion and family. RIP Gary.
Bob and Debbie Lamont Ajax March 03, 2025
Dear Marion and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Gary was a wonderful man and so loyal to Nina and I when we had the Pharmacy. Gary ...
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Dear Marion and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Gary was a wonderful man and so loyal to Nina and I when we had the Pharmacy. Gary was our very first patient at HMP and will love him forever for that. I am thinking of you with fond memories of Gary.
Take care,
Carolyn (aka one of “the Pharmacy Girls)
Carolyn Hart Peterborough March 03, 2025
Carolyn Hart Peterborough March 03, 2025
My thoughts are with you all during this difficult time. Cherish your memories.
Lisa Humphries (Rowlands) Bobcaygeon March 03, 2025
RIP Gary. Old friends are never forgotten. So many good times to remember. Our sincerest condolences to Marion and family.
Barb and Dave
Barb and Dave Claringbold New Brunswick March 03, 2025
Sincere Condolences to all the Desroche Family, he was a good man and respected Fire Fighter.
Archie & Eileen Mackinnon Oshawa March 03, 2025
To the Derouches family….Our sincere condolences on the passing of Gary. He and Marion were great neighbours, always up for a quick chat....
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To the Derouches family….Our sincere condolences on the passing of Gary. He and Marion were great neighbours, always up for a quick chat. Thinking of you, Marion, Lance and Nikki during this difficult time.
Lynda and Fred Dever Brechin March 03, 2025
Lynda and Fred Dever Brechin March 03, 2025
Marion & family
We are very sorry to hear about Gary’s passing
Our thoughts & prayers are with you
RIP. Gary
Avard & Sandra northrup Ajax on March 03, 2025
R.I.P. Gary, you will be sorely missed.
Terry & Bev Phillips Oshawa Ontario March 03, 2025
You have been in our lives for 57 years & we will miss you dearly. Our sympathy Marion, Lance & Nikki & family!
Bill & Linda Braiden Pickering March 02, 2025
Marion. We are so sorry to hear about Gary. We are thinking about you and your family.
Joan and Barry Vey Hilton Head, SC March 02, 2025
My deepest condolences to Marion, Lance, Nikki and their families You are all in my thoughts and prayer. Gary was a great man and co-wor...
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My deepest condolences to Marion, Lance, Nikki and their families You are all in my thoughts and prayer. Gary was a great man and co-worker. May he rest in peace.
Catherine Bartlett AJAX March 02, 2025
Catherine Bartlett AJAX March 02, 2025
So sorry to hear this.Gary was lots of fun to work with. Lots of golf holiday talks and stories. You will be missed PS have a rye for me....
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So sorry to hear this.Gary was lots of fun to work with. Lots of golf holiday talks and stories. You will be missed PS have a rye for me. RIP
Sean Taylor and family Port Perry March 02, 2025
Sean Taylor and family Port Perry March 02, 2025
It is with sadness as we just learned of Gary’s passing , the best to Marion , Lance and Nick,
Brenda and I have many good memories, I w...
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It is with sadness as we just learned of Gary’s passing , the best to Marion , Lance and Nick,
Brenda and I have many good memories, I was fortunate to have Gary as a mentor in the fire service that extended to the golf course and wing nights , I learned to watch hockey on the tv and listen to the baseball scores, on the radio at the same time followed by darts in the basement of station 2 .Rip pal , his nick name by Bill Bartlett was SPORT , pretty well defines who he was , great guy ,
Dave Clarke Prince Edward island March 02, 2025
Dave Clarke Prince Edward island March 02, 2025
Please accept my condolences.
I fondly remember good times spent at the Kerry Inn with Gary, Marion, Brian and Sherri.
Michelle Thompson Courtenay, BC (formerly of Ajax) March 02, 2025
Dear Brian, Sherri, Robin, Missy and family,
I'm very sorry to hear your sad, sad news. Please know I'm thinking of you.
Mary Anne Rowlands New Brunswick March 02, 2025
Marion and family our condolences R.I.P. Gary
Peter Lockett Ajax March 02, 2025
Love you forever. You will be greatly missed❤️
Sig & Linda Rohr Newcastle March 02, 2025
I was walking by your house this morning thinking about you and how I should knock on your door and see how you’re doing living so close t...
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I was walking by your house this morning thinking about you and how I should knock on your door and see how you’re doing living so close to each other and all the years we work together and yet I never seem to see you and now just getting this message that you have passed Stings my heart and all the memories come flooding back. You are truly a wonderful person and touched my life in so many ways. To your wife and family. I am so sorry for your loss Gary was gem of a man.
Kimberley Smith Ajax March 02, 2025
Kimberley Smith Ajax March 02, 2025
R. I. P. My friend
Gord Harnum Whitby March 02, 2025
Nikki, and family. We are so sorry for your loss. Our deepest condolences to you all.
Cathy and Mark Grant
Cathy and Mark Grant Whitby March 02, 2025
You will truly be missed
Krystal and Craig Courtice March 02, 2025
Thank you for always being there for us Mr D, all the wonderful memories we will cherish forever. Forever in our hearts and thoughts.
Fl...
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Thank you for always being there for us Mr D, all the wonderful memories we will cherish forever. Forever in our hearts and thoughts.
Fly high you are such a wonderful man.
RIP
Belinda & Eugene Jones Whitby March 02, 2025
Belinda & Eugene Jones Whitby March 02, 2025
RIP, my condolences to his family and friends. Gone but never forgotten❤️ Cheers, Gary
Dialishe Spink Courtice, Ont March 02, 2025
RIP Uncle Gary. ❤️
Lori Spadafore Port Hope March 02, 2025
RIP Mr. Desroches, you will be forever missed by everyone who new you. I know our Family have alot of fond memories in Ajax. Our Condolen...
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RIP Mr. Desroches, you will be forever missed by everyone who new you. I know our Family have alot of fond memories in Ajax. Our Condolences to the Family.
Kim Andrews Pollett Conception Bay South Nl March 02, 2025
Kim Andrews Pollett Conception Bay South Nl March 02, 2025
I am very sorry for the loss of a great Man . My condolences to everyone. I have many great memories of family gatherings . His sense of h...
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I am very sorry for the loss of a great Man . My condolences to everyone. I have many great memories of family gatherings . His sense of humour and commitment to family make him one of the great.
Wendy Picton March 02, 2025
Wendy Picton March 02, 2025
Gone but never forgotten.
R.I.P. my friend
Al Gray Cobourg March 02, 2025
Very sorry for your loss my sincere condolences to the family. Gary was a fun guy and always smiling
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