George Lano Doubt

George grew up in the northern Ontario town of Cochrane. He and his brothers honed their scouting skills and kept an open-floored tent ready-pitched out back of the family home, ensuring close encounters with all manner of passing wildlife. For summer vacations his parents drove the family south to their Amabel Township homesteads and to the dozens of relatives who imbued George with formative lessons in community, hard work, and craftsmanship.

After a near miss with a dentistry career, George reoriented to his calling as a mechanical engineer, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1968. Thanks to those extended undergraduate years, he met and married Joan Klaas, his sweetheart and inseparable teammate of over 58 years.

The in-laws soon dubbed George “the Deacon”, as he was often dekin’ off trail, down the basement steps or out the back door, particularly when a situation hinted at becoming noisy or chaotic.

Together, George and Joan found and fell in love with Deep River: ideally situated between his parents in North Bay and hers in Ottawa, less than 15 km by bike, ski or kayak to Atomic Energy of Canada’s Chalk River Laboratories, in the heart of a wild forest with sparkling rivers, full of neighbours, friends, collaborators and co-conspirators who loved nature and community as much as they did.

At work, George completed an M.Sc. (University of Ottawa), and advanced the development of nuclear reactors. At home, he turned the same precision and innovation to the organizations he supported, and to projects around the house. No gardener had straighter rows or more disappointed deer. One spring he confidently constructed a birdhouse specific to Great Crested Flycatchers, smiling sidelong at several skeptics when the first feathered couple moved in immediately upon installation.

George quickly became a core member of the Deep River Cross Country Ski Club (DRXC), creating, clearing and grooming ski and snowshoe trails, marshalling races, and rehabilitating flood-worn bridges for decades thereafter. Winter weekends brought ski or snowshoe adventures, preferably way off trail. In summer he switched to a canoe, kayak, or windsurfer…or simply walked, gently delighting as the kids and grandkids in his care all also learned to love being outside.

George loved making music, which he did with his voice, guitar, recorder, trumpet, trombone, tuba and didjeridu. With Joan he played for decades in the Deep River Symphony Orchestra, the Petawawa Legion Band, the Deep River Community Band, over 20 summer CAMMAC music camp cohorts and many smaller groups. During the pandemic, Oh Canada sounded from their porch every Sunday. 

Recently, George remembered aloud the exhilarating freedom granted by owning his first bike: so many places to discover, wonders to witness, stunts to pull. Into his 82nd year, he rolled with a fun-loving gang of mountain biking friends for all of the same reasons.

He is deeply missed by his wife Joan (Klaas) Doubt; daughter Jennifer Doubt; daughter Emily Beedell (Dave) and grandchildren Jillian, Anna and William Beedell; brother Doug Doubt (Beth); and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by brother Jim Doubt (Lorna), parents Fosta (Matches) and George Doubt, and son-in-law Kieran Shepherd.

We extend enormous thanks to the medical teams at the Pembroke Regional Hospital and the Deep River and District Hospital, who worked so hard for a different outcome, particularly Dr. Peter Ceponis and Dr. Terry McVey.

Visitation will take place Thursday March 13 at the Valley Funeral Home (6-8pm). A  memorial service will follow on Friday March 14, 11 am, at the Deep River Community Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Deep River District Hospital Foundation Closer to Home Fund or to a charity of your choice.

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