Gaetan “Gates” Bisson
July 23, 1943 - April 10, 2025
Funeral Details: A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Bisson, Gaetan (Gates) age 81 of Georgetown/Newmarket /Aurora passed away peacefully on April 10th, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Gates was a kind, caring, loving, and generous man. He was always positive and saw only the best in people who he knew and met. He was the beloved husband to Carol (nee Low) for over 50 years. Loving and cherished father to Cindy (Jason), Jeffrey (Jennifer), Stacey (Sean) and Michelle (Reuben). Proud Guong Guong to Berkeley and Lerynne. Loved brother to Douglas (Liette) and sister Christiane (Claude).
Gaetan will be missed by his many many friends from Colgate/Mennen Canada, Gaylea Foods, friends and colleagues from his many ventures in China, his friends from the Peel Scale Modelers, IPMS Toronto, IPMS Hamilton, Simcoe Scale Modelers, and TAPS North model clubs.
As per Gaetan’s wishes, no funeral or service will be held. His message is “Don’t be sad when I’m gone, be happy that I was here.”
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff and volunteers at Margaret Bahen Hospice and to Dr. Katie Mulhern for the compassionate and loving care that was given to Gaetan.
In Memory of Gaetan (Gates), donations can be made to Margaret Bahen Hospice. 653 Queen Street Newmarket, L3Y 2J1 905-967-1500
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Memories and messages of condolence may be left below.
Peaceful Transition York
Frank Bruni
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025I have fond memories of ‘Gates’, not the least of which was the joy I took whenever we were out for lunch and he surprised the wait staff in some Dim Sum restaurant by speaking Chinese. The looks on their faces was priceless. It always makes me smile. Thanks Gaetan!
He was a class act and I’ll miss him. To his family my sincere condolences.
Simon Romano
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025Mon Ami, I am so grateful for our time together. Your influence and guidance is so appreciated! Thank you for everything! I will miss you Gates.
Tracey Wright
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025I am a volunteer at Margaret Bahen, and I just have to say how lucky I was to meet Gates and his lovely family. I will be thinking of you all. xo
Olivia Baker
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025Gatean was “Uncle Gates” or “Gator” to me. He was a bonus grandfather and a cherished part of my life growing up. I got to know him through my dad who worked at Colgate with Gates. One of the most unique people i’ve ever met – always unapologetically himself. He is someone incredibly special to me and I will miss him immensely. All my love to Carol and the rest of his family.
Glen Fowlie
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025Gates was always enthusiastic and positive. He was so nice to my kids and was always available to chat. He will be missed.
Sandy McRorie
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025You couldn’t help be in a good mood when you were around Gates he was always so positive.
I consider my self luck to have been a friend we will all miss him.
Sincere condolences to Carol and the family.
John Wong
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025Dearest Gaetan — it was an absolute pleasure, honour, and privilege to have known you and shared so many common interests with you. Your passion in living life, in your hobbies, travels, and most of all your ability to become friends with all who you came into contact with is unmatched. We are all saddened by your passing, but your words cannot have any truer meaning: “Don’t be sad when I’m gone, be happy that I was here.” To Gaetan’s family – our deepest condolences, and no doubt you are saddened by his passing, but no doubt also that you are all incredibly grateful, thankful, and happy to have had such a wonderful man in your lives, as we all are.
Not sure I can say much more without breaking down at the keyboard here, but to Gaetan — merci beaucoup, mon ami. Blue skies and Godspeed ! Until we meet again in that big hobby shop in the sky ! RIP.
Ric & Louise Bisson
Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2025Though we were not that close, we were cousins. I will miss our yearly Christmas calls. Rest in peace dear Gates.
Cousins from the North (Sudbury),
Ric & Louise XX
Kim Bayley
Posted on: Friday, April 11, 2025I worked with Gaetan at Mennen and then with Colgate when they purchased Mennen.
I have so many fond memories of Gaetan both at work and also on a personal level. He became the company photographer at many business and social events. He was always up for lunch at the local Hakka restaurant nearby the Mennen office or for Dim Sum down on Dundas. He had an infectious smile that warmed hearts and he was typically the first person to welcome new employees.
My condolences to Carol and his kids who Gaetan was always so proud of.
Linda Cochrane
Posted on: Friday, April 11, 2025It was ghe 90’s, and I have such fond memories of a kind neighbour who was so good to my son. And his family…magnifique!
Rest in peace Gates. Linda Neel
Sue Todd
Posted on: Friday, April 11, 2025Imagine reconnecting with a first cousin because he was friends of a friend on Linkedin! We all met for lunch and he looked so much like my departed Dad. Gaetan also came to visit my mom when she first moved in with us and brought flowers. She was tickled pink. I’m very sorry for his loss. He was a class act.
Horst Gaensewig
Posted on: Monday, April 14, 2025Going to miss our McDonald’s lunch meetings and solving the world’s problems. Gates was adventurous, knowledge seeking, showed wisdom, always had a positive outlook, generous with compliments-a genuine “people person”.
He loved life and passed on with grace.
I will miss you, my friend.
Gilles Aubin
Posted on: Tuesday, April 15, 2025My dear friend Gaetan
I am so happy that you were here. I will miss you.
Sincere condolences to Carol and the family
Alexander Nuñez Folgar
Posted on: Thursday, April 17, 2025Gates came to our lives guided by the hand of our loved Carol, and became part of a Cuban family that embraced him as a wonderful present from the universe. He captured not only our hearts with his warm smiles, but so many beautiful moments in his excellent photos and videos. Thanks for the times we shared! See you in the eternity!
Margaret Bahen Hospice
Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2025It was an honour to care for Gates at Margaret Bahen Hospice. On behalf of the entire Margaret Bahen Hospice team, please accept our deepest sympathies. http://www.myhospice.ca