Gary – Gone but Not Forgotten

For those of you that knew Gary McLean Simpson I am sorry to tell you that I have just heard he passed away six days after his beloved mother on 4 March.

He was living in Kleinmond looking after his mother who until this year was in his words “a strong lady” at 90. Her cancer diagnosis was a huge blow but he knew the time would come. 

Gary spent his entire adult life in service to the fishing industry. He was an enigma to many, a wild card that used to deliver gems of news or information that only comes with vast experience. Not just from an intrinsic interest in others, but deep knowledge and a passion for the businesses, and for many of the individuals still active in the industry. He certainly sympathised with the small-scale fishermen and did everything he could to help them.

Make no mistake he was connected. A lot of the people he knew in industry, labour, and in politics he had been to school with. A Kalk Bay boy at heart, he grew up with the industry and in his private time he – and his friends – partied and played hard. He was particularly fond of The Brass Bell.

Underneath it all was a serious side. He would say he was not good at relationships but his daughter Jessamine (cellphone 0626016595) was simply the love of his life. Spare a thought for her as she lost both her grandmother and her father less than a week apart. 

Over the 23 years that I have been publishing Fishing Industry News SA, Gary and I spent many an hour on the phone not only talking about work-related issues but also what was happening in our personal lives. There was no doubt that he was really struggling towards the end. He had a heart condition that was rendering him weaker and weaker and he knew it. 

One of his greatest wishes was to surf again but he dared not so he said instead of taking his surfboard he would take his beers down to the beach instead. 

He would be glad if you could raise a cheers to him.

Image: Better times but how Gary would want to be remembered.