Gail Ann Chase (Nee Killin)
1953-2007
Gail was born 7th November 1953 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto. She was the first of five children for Barb and Gord Killin, and the only daughter. When her youngest brother Glenn was born, on April 1st, 1968, she thought it was an April Fools joke until she visited the hospital to see for herself. She was a fantastic big sister though, and always looked out for her siblings.
The family grew up in what became Mississauga. She attended Dixie Public School then Applewood Heights Secondary School. She would the go on to study kinesiology at George Brown College, then McMaster University. Gail was the architect behind the whole family getting into track and field. She, along with brothers Scott and Gerry, were three of the original six athletes to join the newly formed Mississauga Track and Field Club in the spring of 1969 Her brother Craig joined a few months later, and Glenn joined for a season or two once old enough. Mom and Dad were highly active with the club as well – timekeeping; fund raising; driving cross-province and inter-province; and chaperoning billeted athletes from visiting clubs.
Gail was one of only two women who ran in the Toronto Police Games marathon in the early 1970s, when women were first allowed to enter. She went on to run other marathons in Niagara Falls and Detroit long before the running trend caught on to the extent is has today. It was through her involvement in running that she met Rick Chase, a fellow runner. Once Gail’s German Shepard Duke allowed it Rick and Gail started dating. They eventually married July 25th, 1987, then honeymooned on their sailboat travelling most of the length of Lake Ontario from Port Credit to Kingston and the Thousand Islands.
The sailboat eventually gave way to a growing family – daughters Robyn and Brittany, and son Ryan. The family outgrew their house in Port Credit and moved to Burlington. Their involvement in lacrosse and other sports, and flyball for the dogs, kept them very busy, and usually travelling in different directions, throughout the years. Below is a picture of Gail enjoying a brisk pontoon boat tour on the St. Lawrence in 2005. Note the dog leash in her hand – their household was rarely without a dog.
Sadly, Gail passed away March 13th, 2007 about a year after being diagnosed with cancer. She was only 53 years old. She is interred at St. John’s Dixie Cemetery, Mississauga, along with her father, as will her mother. Forever will her smile and laugh live on through her children.
The family grew up in what became Mississauga. She attended Dixie Public School then Applewood Heights Secondary School. She would the go on to study kinesiology at George Brown College, then McMaster University. Gail was the architect behind the whole family getting into track and field. She, along with brothers Scott and Gerry, were three of the original six athletes to join the newly formed Mississauga Track and Field Club in the spring of 1969 Her brother Craig joined a few months later, and Glenn joined for a season or two once old enough. Mom and Dad were highly active with the club as well – timekeeping; fund raising; driving cross-province and inter-province; and chaperoning billeted athletes from visiting clubs.
Gail was one of only two women who ran in the Toronto Police Games marathon in the early 1970s, when women were first allowed to enter. She went on to run other marathons in Niagara Falls and Detroit long before the running trend caught on to the extent is has today. It was through her involvement in running that she met Rick Chase, a fellow runner. Once Gail’s German Shepard Duke allowed it Rick and Gail started dating. They eventually married July 25th, 1987, then honeymooned on their sailboat travelling most of the length of Lake Ontario from Port Credit to Kingston and the Thousand Islands.
The sailboat eventually gave way to a growing family – daughters Robyn and Brittany, and son Ryan. The family outgrew their house in Port Credit and moved to Burlington. Their involvement in lacrosse and other sports, and flyball for the dogs, kept them very busy, and usually travelling in different directions, throughout the years. Below is a picture of Gail enjoying a brisk pontoon boat tour on the St. Lawrence in 2005. Note the dog leash in her hand – their household was rarely without a dog.
Sadly, Gail passed away March 13th, 2007 about a year after being diagnosed with cancer. She was only 53 years old. She is interred at St. John’s Dixie Cemetery, Mississauga, along with her father, as will her mother. Forever will her smile and laugh live on through her children.
