Gerald Howard MacGarvie of Ottawa, ON and Bay View, NB passed away at the Saint John Regional Hospital on June 21, 2026, in his eightieth year.

Predeceased by his parents, Weston and Phyllis (McCormack) MacGarvie, his brother Sherman, and his sister Barbara. Survived by his wife Sandra Crabtree, daughter Megan MacGarvie (Sam Thompson), and stepsons Jeremy Price (Daphnee Vandal), Lucas Price (Cory), and Morgan Price (Sarah Wallace). Also survived by grandchildren Alice, Hugh, Mattea, Peyton, and Sage; great-granddaughter Lily; and nephew Ryan Silverson.

Gerald grew up in Sackville, NB and was shaped by childhood visits to family in Caroll’s Crossing and Dalhousie. He graduated from Mount Allison University in 1968 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in economics, later earning a Master of Arts in economics (University of British Columbia 1970) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Mount Allison 2026). In a distinguished career with the Province of New Brunswick, he made significant contributions to economic policy and public finance. A strong believer in the importance of careful stewardship of public funds, he spearheaded initiatives to modernize the province’s treasury, investment operations, and debt management. 

These included the creation of an investment management company for government pension funds and the financing of the Confederation Bridge. Gerald’s later role in the leadership of the Crabtree Foundation helped ensure strong endowment returns that enabled higher levels of charitable giving. Together with Sandra, and with the assistance of Executive Administrator Stephanie Bleeker, he oversaw the foundation’s giving to promote health and well-being, education and research, the arts, and protection of the environment in Canada. He felt his greatest legacy was his wild and beautiful property in Bay View, NB, which he developed and delighted in showing off, traversing trails on his "green machine" to visit the waterfall, cliffs, and beach. Initiation rites for visitors included picking and eating dulse and drinking from an underground spring (and agreeing that it was the best water they had ever tasted).

Thank you to the dedicated staff of the Saint John Regional Hospital, the Ottawa Hospital, and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jones Funeral Home, Sackville and Port Elgin, NB.  The funeral and reception will take place at 1pm on July 10th at Jones Funeral Home, 70 Bridge St., Sackville, NB.

Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the online memorial at www.jonesfuneralhome.ca or through the Jones Funeral Home Facebook Page.