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James Routh was the pillar of his family and his community. He passed away suddenly at his home in Grafton, Ontario on July 5, 2021.
Born in Vancouver in 1946 to Randolph Routh (of Montreal) and Mary Brass (of Calgary), James was raised in Montreal in the Town of Mount Royal. The oldest of four children, James was fiercely protective of his three younger sisters.
An unfortunate accident involving an automobile when he was six years old injured his leg, requiring years of surgeries and physical rehabilitation. While this may have precluded a career in sports, James was nonetheless a force in school— someone who easily connected with people, which allowed him to make friends easily, lead student clubs, and otherwise excel as a person.
James attended Loyola College in Montreal, earning his degree in 1968. Seeking adventure, he would then spend a year abroad, working in the Caribbean and ultimately sailing on a transatlantic journey to the Azores, then Ireland, before finally returning to Canada. In 1969, his chosen career path of teaching would lead him on a different adventure, when he came across a job posting for a position in Gaspé, Quebec — an area he would have to locate on a map. The big city Montrealer would relocate and quickly make his mark in a small town.
It’s in Gaspé where James would teach at an English High School in Pointe-Navarre and ESL classes in Gaspé, and also met his future wife Helen Buckley, who attended Teachers’ College at the same time. They wed in August 1975, and remained in Gaspé until 1998, working for the Eastern Shores School Board, raising three children and teaching at the same elementary school, Belle Anse School. He served as a teacher, head teacher, principal, teachers’ union president, along with many other roles. His colleagues loved to work for him. He also had a profound impact on his students, both inside and outside the classroom.
James was a force in his community. He was one of the founders of the Gaspesie Literary Council. He believed deeply that reading was a necessity for success in life. He was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the local Century Lodge Masonic temple, where he served as Lodge Master. He also served as volunteer for the Committee for Anglophone Social Action (CASA), Gaspé South Telecasting Syndicate, helped found the Malbay Festival and the Sea Scouts of Douglastown, and served as president of the Gaspé Spec newspaper.
James continued his tradition of community building after his and Helen’s 1998 move to Ontario, with active membership in the Royal Canadian Legion, most recently as Zone Commander, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Township Water Board, Police Services Board, and countless other civic-minded endeavours.
James is survived by his loving wife Helen, three children (Richard, Robert, and Melanie), and their spouses (Tonya, Kimberly and Rui), seven grandchildren (Isaiah, Emmeline, Emilia, Isabelle, Jacob, Madeline, and Riley), and two sisters (Geraldine and Peggy). He is predeceased by his sister Christine. He is sorely missed by his family, friends, former students and colleagues and all others who have been fortunate enough to have met him over the course of his life. Friends and family are invited to call at the MacCoubrey Funeral Home, 30 King St., E., Cobourg on Saturday August 28th from 12 noon - 2 pm., followed by a service at 2 pm. Covid protocols are in place, you must wear a mask, social distance and sign in. The service will be live streamed at www.MacCoubrey.com. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in his memory be made to Camp Oochigeas: https://bit.ly/JamesRouth
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Charity of Your Choice
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
My sincerest Condolences to the entire family Mrs Helen, Robert, Richard and Melanie. Jim was always very nice to me every time I saw him always asking how I was doing, He always told me if I ever needed help just to let him know. He always thought a lot of me and I always thought so much of him. I believe that it was him that was instrumental in me receiving the Casa Award when I graduated in 1993 from C.E, Pouliot Polyvalent High School. I will miss his smile and his great personality and how supportive he always was toward me. May he rest in Peace.
You left a mark on everyone who knew you Jim, you will always be remembered, my deepest sympathies to the entire family.
Toutes mes condoléances pour la perte de James, j'espère qu'avec le temps tous les bons souvenirs vous réconforteront, Helen et toute la famille. La vie nous apprend beaucoup mais elle ne nous prépare jamais à ces moments si difficiles. Toutes mes pensées sont avec vous, en cette période de deuil. De cousin Serge Caron et Carole Gaudet
Everyone from Gaspe remembers you with great fondness Jim. May you rest in peace. And to Helen and family, may your memories surround you and keep Jim with you always. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear about Jim’s passing! Our sympathies to you and family🌹
Helen and the family... I express my deep sympathy !
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Charity of Your Choice
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
Dear Helen and family, It was a long journey from grade six in Town of Mount Royal to here in Vancouver and your Jim and I shared very different adult lives but I always appreciated his regular telephone calls around Christmas and New Years to be able to catch up on our lives. We had even talked in the last six months about the four of us taking an Alaska cruise together in the future as I was always encouraging him to come out West to visit me. Jim was always kind and generous especially giving my then teenage children a tour of his oil barrel business in Toronto and our later visit to you in Gaspe when I took my children on a driving tour of the Maritimes. Jim had a very rich and rewarding life and he will be greatly missed!
o very sorry to hear of your great loss Helen. I often think of you and the many friends I had in GASPE.Jim was much more succesful in adapting to rural life than I .Idid quite well when getting back to my natural habitat . I, know you and your family will find peace. love Che
Dear Helen, We were so sorry to hear of Jim's untimely passing. Sending you and your family our most sincere condolences . May happy memories of Jim and friends comfort you during this difficult time.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
Helen, my sympathies to you and your family. I was saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I have fond memories of Jim from my Gaspe days. He was always a pleasure to be with. Herb
Our sincere condolences to family and friends he was a very friendly educated person RIP
Sorry for your loss, I will remember Jim as a kind & supportive gentleman with a good sense of humour.
The Master, Officers & members of the Good Samaritan Masonic Lodge #68, New Carlisle, Qc. extend sympathy to the family. Dwight Coull, Master of the Lodge
Our deepest sympathy to Helen and her family. Jim was a great friend whom I worked with for several years. May he rest in peace.. Kenneth & Christine Ward, New Carlisle, Qc.
My deepest sympathies to the Routh family. I will remember Jim as an affable coworker and very much a gentleman.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
Heartfelt condolences, such a lovely man.
My sincere condolences to Helen and family on James passing.
My condolences to Helen and family. I had the opportunity to work with Jim at SPEC and at Belle-Anse School. I greatly appreciated his help during my early teaching days. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Hold on to the cherished memories of a life well-lived. Helen Bond
Our deepest condolences to you Helen and your Family. We were very surprised to hear the news. I will always have fond memories of Jim. My first business experience was with Jim, cutting and buying Christmas trees in Douglastown and hiring a transport to haul them to Montreal. While we probably only broke even with the adventure, we had a blast. I will always remember his little one liners and chuckle after them. Helen, our thoughts are with you, wishing you strength though this difficult time. God bless Jim, you and your family.
To Helen, family and friends, we offer our deepest sympathy, our thoughts and prayers are with you. ❤️❤️❤️
Sorry to hear about James passing, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you travel the path to acceptance and healing. God Bless Josephine
My deepest condolences to Helen and your family. Eastern Star meetings and functions will not be the same without him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.
My deepest sympathy to the family. Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope.
I was saddened by the notice of Jim’s passing and I send my deepest condolences to Helen and the family. Upon meeting Jim at Gaspe high school we both knew a friendship was apparent, he was my English teacher and treated me like a brother. Jim was a mentor and whoever knew him looked up to him and never a bad word was spoken. He was a gentleman and definitely influenced my life. Rest In Peace my friend. 🌹
I was shocked to read Jim's obituary on fB. I spent many memorable years working with Jim in school and at union meetings. To Helen and all members of his family, please accept my deepest sympathies. RIP JIM.
Deepest sympathies to Helen and family. Jim’s intelligence, wit and friendly demeanour will be missed by everyone who new him. Rest In Peace my friend.
Mes sincères condoléances à toute la famille.
Jim excelled at being the best of people. His sincere caring humble beautiful witty nature endeared all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was an amazing family man and tireless supporter and community builder. Always in our hearts.
Helen and Family, Our sincere sympathy to you and your Family. May all your happy memories give you comfort during this sad time. Tyran and Laura Morris
Sorry for your lost he was a good wine server at our Grafton Legion ladies Christmas dinner. He will be truly missed.
Helen and family, We were shocked to hear of Jim’s passing. Our sincere condolences to all the family. Jim will surely be missed by his many Gaspesien friends! Hugs xoxo
Our deepest sympathy to you Helen, your family and friends . May he rest in peace. Valerie and Adrien
Helen and family.please except our sincere condolences in Jim's passing. It will be sad not hearing his great laugh and friendly greetings at Branch 580. RIP my friend.
My deepest sympathies to Helen and family. We are very sorry for your loss!
Helen and Family Our sincere condolences to you and your family. Jim always had a story to tell or impart some words of wisdom. He will be dearly missed at the branch. With the help of your family you will survive this.
Our deepest sympathy. RIP Jim.
Our Deepest Condolences to the Routh family. Jim was highly respected within our zone. Comrades of Zone F2 Ladies Auxiliaries
My thoughts and prayers to you,Helen, and your family. What a remarkable man he was. Definitely someone to emulate. His gift to people was enormous. Thank you for the wonderful tribute written about him which expanded my picture of a genuine human being.
Mes plus sincères condoléances à la famille particulièrement à toi Hélène dont je garde un excellent souvenir . Je suis de tout cœur avec vous .
Very sorry for your loss. Jim was a nice guy.
Emery and I are very sadden by the passing of a dear friend . Jim was a great gentleman loved by everyone who knew him. A very devoted leader to improve life in our little communities . As a principal and a teacher, he always wanted the best for the students as he did for his staff . We will miss his surprising summer visits which we enjoyed very much!! We will miss you dearly Jim!! To Helen, Richard, Robert and Melanie and to their family and friends we are with you in thoughts and prayers !!!
Our deepest condolences to your family during time. Sending lots of love.
With a heavy heart I am so sad to hear about your sudden loss .. may you and your family find strength in the loving memories of a very special man
Our condolences to the whole family. He will be missed.
Helen, please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Jim! What a surprise when I read this on fb! Take care and hold tightly to your memories.
My most heartfelt sympathy to you Helen and both your families and close friends. Rejoice in the memories and know he is with you always.
Such a heartbreaking time for all Jim's loved ones. Such a huge presence in Gaspe and respected and loved by many. Our thoughts of sympathy to all his loved ones. May you find comfort in the memories.
Helen, I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear husband. My sincere sympathies to you, your children and grandchildren.
My deepest sympathies. This is quite a shock. We will all miss his humour and I will miss his staunch celebration of StPaddys day!
My most sincere condolences Helen and to the loving family. I am sure you have such love and memories to keep him in your thoughts daily.
Dear Helen and family. I am saddened by this news and will miss seeing James by your side. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. May many happy memories fill the emptiness in your heart.
My Deepest Sympathy to Jim’s family and friends ❤️
My deepest condolences to Helen and all your family. I still can't believe you are gone, you certainly made a huge impact here in Gaspe. I am proud to say I knew you and your family. You will be missed very much and I hope you are with all your friends that have gone before you.
My sincere condolences to the Routh family
We were deeply saddened when we heard of Jim’s passing. Deepest sympathies to all of his family and friends. May fond memories help you all through this most difficult time...Brad and Janice, Gaspé, Quebec.
We are thinking about you folks at this difficult time. May Jim Rest Easy. Keep the memories alive and speak about all the good times.
Our deepest sympathies to all the family. May all the happy memories of Jim bring you comfort.
My deepest sympathy to the entire family and to the many friends.
All my condolences to the whole family. May our Lord God be with you all during these difficult times and forever more. Blessings 🙏
Our deepest sympathies. Thinking of you and your family. Thoughts and prayers Barb and Francis
Our sincere condolences go out to the whole Family at this very difficult time.
Our deepest condolences to the entire family. Jim was a wonderful person who always had a chuckle and a story for you. I'm sure he leaves a huge void in your hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Tom & Trish Sheridan
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Camp Oochigeas in Memory of James Routh
My sincere condolences to you Helen, Richard, Robert & Melanie. I met Jim when we lived here in Douglastown from 1985-87. He came with Alfred to visit me at the Gaspe Hospital where I had my third child Alex. I enjoyed his stories and passion for the community. He made a difference. It was so nice to see him one last time when Jim & Helen visited Gaspe I believe a couple of years ago. He stopped by our summer place in Douglastown & complimented us on how beautiful our property is. Many people were looking forward to his next trip here, we hope Helen & his children will someday.
Helen and Family We are so very sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He will be greatly missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
My condolences to the family, Helen, sending love and hugs, he was a great man in many ways!
I remember meeting James when I was working for the Grafton Inn a few years ago. I believe we were organizing a stay for his sister Geraldine. He was so very kind. My thoughts are with the entire Routh family at this time. - Monique
We were so sorry to hear of Jim's sudden passing.He was well known in our teaching community as well as in our social circle.Sending love and hugs to Helen and her family.
My deepest condolences Helen, to you and your family. Such unexpected news. James was a great man in so many ways. So sorry.