GARY ASA NUTTALL

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GARY ASA NUTTALL

Gary Nuttall died amidst his loving family on a bright, sunny day at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, on June 23, 2023.

Gary loved, and was loved beyond expressing by, his family. He was so involved in our lives that every single decision and future plan brings us back to him. He was part of our lives at home, at work, and at play. His spirit will stay with us now and always.

Gary was the wisest of us and saw the furthest. Time and again, Gary guided us in our personal lives and our work challenges. And we are not the only ones he guided. He was an insightful mentor to more than one generation of leaders, a safe haven to others, a second or first father to some. His work, first as a professor and then as the founder of Cultural Research, directly touched hundreds of thousands of people.

Gary was born on June 5, 1935, in Emo, Ontario, to Asa (“Ace”) and Gertrude (“Gertie”) Nuttall. He went to high school in Fort Frances, and worked for his father at Emo Lumber. After studying engineering at the University of Manitoba he worked at the Fort Frances paper mill, where he met his great mentor Charles Windebank, who helped launch him on a lifelong quest to understand and harness the driving forces behind human behaviour. This path led to a Master of Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota, and Gary accepting a position at what is now the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba.

Gary taught at the UofM for over 30 years, at one point as Head of Business Administration; created innovative courses; and enjoyed barbequing at student functions. He periodically lectured at places like Cornell University and annually at the Banff School of Advanced Management, in their program for international business leaders.

Gary was relentlessly creative throughout his life, generating new ways of understanding the human condition, with a particular focus on values, norms, beliefs, culture, and individual and group decision making. Out of these efforts came Cultural Research, a small firm with an international reach, and LEAP, a leadership program created with his wife Pat Farrell, and described as life-changing by many. For decades, while leading CR and developing new and unique research processes, Gary helped organizations and individuals across Canada and the US make better decisions by getting to know themselves. Governments, unions, corporations, nurses, hospitals, universities, and the public all benefited from his work. In a press survey he was highlighted as one of the most influential people in Manitoba, someone “who changes how we do things."

Gary was a remarkable man we are all proud of, but most of all he was an amazing, loving, and endlessly supportive Dad and Poppa. He was very close to all his children and grandchildren, both growing up and in their adult years, passionately discussing with them the big, fundamental issues of life - plus hockey and the Bombers! He passed on his love of learning and reading on all topics, acquiring many thousands of books in his lifetime including an extensive science fiction collection. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, and to watch them play hockey and soccer. He even planned his schedule and travels to coincide with their games - pre-game advice and post-game analysis from Poppa always provided insight and motivation. Treasured time was also spent together at the cabin he built together with his parents and family friend Glen Westover on Rainy Lake, enjoying the lake and the gourmet meals Nana would whip up, along with specialties from Poppa like the legendary “bean dish.”

Gary (“Poppa”) will be greatly missed by many, among them his wife Pat (“Nana”); children, Greg (Heather), Mark, and Laurie (Donald); grandchildren, Ace, Max, Blake, Jack, and Aria; daughter-in-law Sylvia; and close family friends, Karen and Ben.

He has rejoined his beloved son Dale, parents Ace and Gertie, and sister Gayle.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Winnipeg on Saturday, June 8. If you would like to attend please email gnuttall@woodlandbiofuels.com, or contact any other family member.

In lieu of flowers, we know Gary would be grateful for a donation in his memory to CancerCare Manitoba: (support.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/memorialdonation), or a charity of your choice.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 01, 2024, Jun 01, 2024