Gibson School Deaf & Hard of Hearing Alumni

09/26/2021

Hello, Friends and Family near and far:
We are saddened to announce that Sharyn (nee Title) Gunter-Cipin, age 86, formerly of Hamilton, ON and Toronto, ON, passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, on Saturday, September 25, 2021. She chose to die on her own terms as her cancer had spread significantly, without hope for recovery.
A small in-person service will be held in Toronto at Beit Rayim today, Sunday, September 26 at 12:00 noon (prior sign up in compliance with Covid restrictions) and by live stream at:
https://vimeo.com/event/1322327/7351c0b454
We invite you to join us for the live stream to remember our mother. The service will include an ASL interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The burial will be held afterward in Hamilton/Burlington at the Beth Jacob cemetery at 1250 Snake Rd., Burlington, at 3:00 p.m. Local friends and family welcome, with numbers limited to 100 at the graveside, fully vaccinated and masked.
For a detailed obituary and to leave a note for our family about Sharyn, please see the United Hebrew Memorial Chapel Website: https://uhmc.ca/
In-person outdoor shiva visits will begin Monday afternoon. For information regarding the Shiva, please click here:
https://forms.gle/Ga97JsYRtaB9a4r59
We will also be having a Zoom Memorial Celebration of Sharyn Life for those unable to attend in person. It will be on Thursday, September 30, at 7:45 p.m. Please join us if you would like to share memories, thoughts, and stories about our mom. If you didn't get a direct email with the link, and would like to join us, please message us by Thursday a.m.
Thank you all for your continued support during this difficult time, it has meant the world to us.
All our love,
Shayla Gunter, Jack, Matti and Ari Goldstein, Arthur Gunter, Sheldon Gunter and Laura Ettelman, and Kerry and Yael

Hi everyone, i sent the info about my mother's passing away last Saturday. So if I'm not on your friend's list, please add, okay.
Arthur Gunter

Please indicate below which date and time you think you'll be visiting. Please indicate vaccination status. Please don't forget to bring a mask, even though our visits will be outdoors (during daytime hours only due to temperature). Address is 87 Tansley Rd. Thornhill. L4J 3Z5. North of Steeles, wes...

05/29/2021

1921 - 2021

Margit (Miss Kaffka) passed away peacefully at St. Peter's Hospital, Hamilton on Monday, May 24, 2021 at the age of 99. Predeceased by her beloved parents, Ferenc Kaffka and Ferencne Kaffka of Miskolc, Hungary, her brother, Leslie Kaffka and sister-in law, Marion Kaffka of Peterborough. Margit was a gentle soul of strong faith who was respected and dearly loved by her family, former students, teaching colleagues, and life-long friends.

Margit was born and raised in Hungary. She emigrated to London, England and trained as a Montessori teacher. Later, she trained as a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing children, in the oral tradition, and emigrated to her new home in Hamilton, Ontario, where she taught at Gibson, Hampton Heights and Queensdale Schools. She was devoted to her students and they became her Canadian family who, in turn, remained devoted to her long after her retirement.

Due to Covid-19 public health emergency regulations, no funeral service will be held at this time, and in accordance with Margit's wishes, interment will take place in the family plot in Miskolc, Hungary.

A magnolia tree will be dedicated in memory of Margit located at the Laking Garden, Royal Botanical Gardens, Spring Garden Road, Burlington, so that she can be fondly remembered.

Special thanks to staff at St. Peter's Hospital, Juravinski Hospital, Heritage Green Retirement Home, Margit's personal support workers, Rama, Anna and Ravena, and to her good friend Jennifer, all of whom provided comfort and care to Margit during her final days.

Donations to St. Peter's Hospital Foundation in Margit's memory would be appreciated.

05/25/2021

Dear Gibson Classmates & Alumnis,

I have sad news. I received an email from Mary MacKinnon:

May 25, 2021

Hello Friends of Miss Kaffka,

I am sad to report that our dear friend, Miss Kaffka, passed away early yesterday morning in her sleep at St. Peter's Hospital. Rest assured, she died very peacefully and received excellent care at St. Peter's during the last few days of her life.

Upon my request, (the hospital only permitted two visitors - one at a time - and the the same two people - because of Covid-19) Jennifer Early regularly visited Margit both during her stay at the Juravinski Hospital and her short stay at St. Peter's right up until the day before Miss Kaffka died. I am sincerely grateful for Jennifer Early's care and devotion to Miss Kaffka during this time and I am sorry that Miss Kaffka was not able to have visits from all of you. Jennifer read all of your cards and conveyed your well wishes to Miss Kaffka.

As executor of the estate, in the coming days, I will be placing an obituary in The Hamilton Spectator and will forward a subsequent email to all of you once I have had an opportunity to work our the details of any funeral/celebration of life service in memory of Miss Kaffka.

As I only have the emails for a few of you, please feel free to forward this email to any of her other dear friends.

Sincerely,

Mary MacKinnon

05/23/2021

May 22, 2021
Happy 65th Birthday to John Spadefora. I am not sure, but I have to say that John has to be the 1st Italian boy in our Gibson School Deaf & Hard of Hearing class alumni. John started pre-school above Arthur’s father clothing store. I remember John’s told us stories when he first started pre-school. The teachers talked to John’s parents with his cousin to translate to them that they have to speak English at home in order for John to learn. His parents was future translators to future translators to future Italian parents to let them know what they went through and shown proof that Gibson School helped John. This is an important part of Gibson School history. After Gibson School, John went to Parkview Vocational School which was located across the street from Tiger-cats stadium. He went on to start a painting business Spadefora Painting. John and I kept in touch even after Gibson School. John, we are forever grateful the stories you shared with us, inspire us to work hard, don’t give up and everything will work out for the best. I know, because I am one of them who listened to you. We all want to wish you a happiest birthday and may your dreams come true. Have a wonderful awesome day!!! I still love kid! Lol.
Your friend, classmate and alumni
Gregory Ferrara

11/13/2020

November 13, 2020
Happy 65th Birthday to Arthur Gunter. He has to be the 1st Jewish boy in our Gibson School Deaf & Hard of Hearing class alumni. He started at Gibson School in 1960. Arthur’s parents started a pre-school for the Hard of Hearing above their clothing store to provide a better life for their son and all the Hard of Hearing kids. Arthur, we are forever grateful for what your parents did for Gibson School history and where we came from. We all want to wish you a happiest birthday and may your dreams come true. Have a wonderful awesome day!!!
Your friend and class alumni,
Gregory Ferrara

06/21/2018

1956 Gibson Public School. (Barton and Birch)

Do you recognize anyone from the Basketball team?

Front Row: 2nd from left Rick Hardy, 3rd from left Ralph Gallo.
Back Row: 1st on left Roger Francoeur, 2nd on left Lloyd Christmas, 3rd on left Allen Johnson 4th Bill Barclay, 5th John Foley, Teacher: Mr. Peter Beveridge

Lloyd Christmas, Bill Barclay and John Foley were all Hard of Hearing students from Mr. Beveridge class.

04/05/2018

CRAIG, Glenn Edward Passed away suddenly, surrounded by his family and friends, on Friday, March 30, 2018 at the age of 61. Glenn is survived by his mother Patricia (Pat) Craig and predeceased by his father R.W. Craig (Bill). Beloved brother of Marg (Bill), Ken (Linda), Don, Cathy (Mark). Loving unc...

11/21/2016

Hello Gibson School Alumnis,

This Photo symbolize a very important part of our Gibson School History. I want to share with you a brief summary on how our roots began. This Store used to be Gunter's Mens Wear Store owned by Harry Gunter who later passed the business to his son Morton Gunter. The store was located on 637-639 Barton street which was 25 yards away from Gibson School. Morton and Sharon Gunter had a son who was Hard of Hearing named Arthur Gunter. Morton and Sharon wanted to have the best education for Arthur who was 3 years old at the time to get a head start on learning so he won’t fall behind with the rest of the other students. In 1960, Morton, Sharon and Arthur went to Los Angeles, California to enroll a 8 week program at John Tracey Clinc to learn how to communicate and teach with their son. The program was a success. When they returned to Canada, Morton and Sharon came up with an idea and wanted to help other students like Arthur. They had a room upstairs above the store. They turned into a classroom to teach other students. Morton and Sharon started the First Pre-School for the Hard of Hearing in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1965, The Board of Education saw what Morton and Sharon was doing and liked it so much. In 1965, the Board took over and brought the program to Gibson School. At Gibson School, the pre-school classroom was located on Room 3. I wasn’t in Room 3 at the time, but I know most of you might remember.
I believe Morton and Sharon Gunter should receive a Life Achievement Award in Education for their dedication in helping all the other Hard of Hearing students. If it wasn’t for them, where we’ll be and how we would learn. This is a very important part of our History. It gives me great pleasure to share this story.

Thank you

Gregory Ferrara

08/01/2015

1971-1972: First row from left to right.
Stephen Tammi, Marilyn Hunter, Karen Bournes, JoAnn, McClurkin, Joanne Vavan, Bonnie Brohman, Barbara Richards, Wayne Calder.
Back row from left to right.
Mr. McCaughey, Robbie Zobalotney, John Spadefora, Gary Robins, Richard Gunning, Glenn Craig, Barry Wilson, Gregory Ferrara

07/30/2015

Hi Everyone, my name is Gregory Ferrara. I am the creator of the Gibson School Deaf & Hard of Hearing page. I went to Gibson School in 1965 till 1972 then our senior class moved to Hampton Heights in 1973. The main purpose of this page is to reconnect with all the former classmates, socialize to bring back memories and have fun by joining our Annual Alumni day events. I want our page and our classmates to be treated with dignity and respect. There shall be no foul language or inappropriate comments towards each other. If I see any repercussions, you will be first warned to stop, however if it continues, you will removed and blocked from this page. I will update everyone with upcoming event(s). If you all have any School class pictures, feel free to download them on this page. I look forward in hearing back from all you. Thank you.

07/15/2015

Gibson School in1965.

07/15/2015

1969-1970. Top row. Miss Kaffka. 2nd row left to right Cindy Wilkinson, Susan Warnke, 3rd row Mary Lou Scott, Robbie Zobalotney, Joanne Vavan, 4th row Gregory Ferrara, Margaret Pitas, 5th row Shawna Johnston, Antonietta C, Wayne Calder.