June 9, 1944 – February 9, 2025
Heathcote, Ontario, Canada
Wallace (Wally) Fredrick Gabler III passed away peacefully on February 9, 2025, at his farm in Beaver Valley after a courageous battle with brain and prostate cancers. Wally was born in 1944 in Royal Oak, Michigan, son of former Oakland County Commissioner Wallace Fredrick Jr. and Carolyn Mae (Hagelstein) Gabler, brother to John Howard and Carolyn Esther Gabler. Raised in the family bakery business, Hagelstein’s Bakery Inc., combined with an upbringing rich in politics and the United Methodist Church, Wally learned the value of hard work, leadership, humility, and service. Wally’s drive, determination, and strong people skills steered his later successes as a professional football player, television colour commentator, high school teacher, investment advisor, and Bay Street executive.
Wally’s football career began at Royal Oak Kimball High School and at the New Mexico Military Institute. After being selected as a Junior College All-American football player in his freshman year, Wally returned to his home state to play for the University of Michigan, and by his senior year started at quarterback for the Wolverines. While at Michigan, Wally earned his B.A. and Teacher’s Certificate and notably played in the 1965 Rose Bowl when the Wolverines were victorious over Oregon State. At the conclusion of Wally’s senior season in 1965, he was invited to play in the Blue Gray All-Star Game in Montgomery, Alabama, where he was recruited to play professionally for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Toronto Argonauts. Wally’s time in the CFL from 1966 to 1973 coincided with the ‘heyday’ of professional football in Canada, when teams played to packed stadiums and when CFL television viewership rivaled that of the National Hockey League. Wally started as quarterback and was a strong, confident and consistent performer for the Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his five seasons in Toronto, Wally ranked 8th in career Argo passing yards, completions and attempts, and 10th in passing touchdowns. Wally was a highly competitive, motivated and committed athlete, a natural leader, and a humble, thoughtful and generous teammate and friend.
After retiring from professional football, he built a successful second career as a salesperson, manager and senior executive with Bongard and Leslie Co., Nesbitt Thomson Bongard Inc., Nesbitt Thomson Inc., and Bank of Montreal Nesbitt Burns (BMONB). A founding member of the Bank of Montreal’s Private Wealth business, Wally was an excellent partner and his work with merger integration, the recruitment and hiring of new investment advisors, and strengthening organizational culture were instrumental in being a major contributor to the Wealth Management Group. Wally was a dedicated professional and a respected colleague whose contributions left a lasting impact on the organizations he worked for and all who had the privilege of working with him. Known for his enthusiasm, his ability to motivate, and his positive attitude, Wally always had his ear to the ground, with a deep understanding of the sales force and the street. His professionalism, integrity and friendship were hallmarks of Wally’s leadership.
During his football and financial service careers and into his retirement, Wally’s philanthropy and service stand out. Numerous charities and boards have benefited from Wally’s contributions. One of Wally’s proudest achievements was his early work for his CFL colleague and pastor, Bob Rumball’s Foundation for the Deaf and Camp for the Deaf. More recently, Wally served on the Board of Directors of the Meaford Hospital Foundation, and along with his wife Carole Cushing, were benefactors of the Hospital and instrumental in raising funds for a state-of-the-art Cataract Surgery Suite. One of Wally’s greatest gifts to the world was his love for his farm and the Beaver River in Grey County, Ontario, including the environmental farm plan he implemented and the forest he planted. Wally was happiest on his tractor caring for the land. Indeed, many of the charities Wally supported like the Atlantic Salmon Federation and Trout Unlimited had a conservation focus. Wally was a member of Credit Valley, Lora Bay, and Lost City Golf and Country Clubs, serving in leadership positions on the boards of Credit Valley and Lost City.
Wally’s love of golf and fly fishing, among other interests, immersed him in wonderful communities in the Greater Toronto Area, Grey County, St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia, and Atlantis, Florida, in which lifelong friendships were created. Moreover, a lifelong learner and voracious reader, Wally was frequently found in his favourite chair at the farm with a book in hand.
Above all, Wally was a loving husband and a committed father. Wally met his wife Carole through business at BMO Nesbitt Burns. They enjoyed many years of working together, worldly travel including a treasured trip to Africa, and spending cherished time with family and friends at their farm and homes in St. Margaret’s Bay, Forest Hill, and Atlantis. Wally was a dedicated and proud father/stepfather and uncle, and an even prouder grandfather. He loved his son and daughter-in-law and daughters and sons-in-law and had special relationships with each of them. And as in football and business, Wally was an enthusiastic and optimistic life coach and loyal friend to his wife and children, supporting their dreams and goals in all aspects of their lives. Wally leaves a wonderful and well-deserved legacy involving his hard work, leadership, humility and service.
Wally was predeceased by his beloved father Wallace Fredrick Gabler Jr. and mother Carolyn Mae Gabler, his brother John Howard Gabler, and his extraordinary ‘Aunt Tootie’ Delores Janette Hagelstein. He is survived by his loving wife Carole Cushing and his stepchildren, Ethan Fleming Cushing and his wife Michelle and their two children Hamish and Oliver, and Andrew and Luke Taylor; his devoted son and daughters and spouses, Wallace Gabler IV (Alison Horton), Tamara Gabler (Michael Leskovec), and Melissa Gabler (Patrick Cooke); adored grandchildren Camille Horton-Poole, Elliot and Eva Gabler, Ella and Elias Leskovec, and Hazel and Lily Cooke; his dear sister Carolyn Esther Gabler; and his special niece and nephew and their families Sarah (Gabler) Kolar (Michael) and John Gabler Jr. (Cheryl) and children, Michael Jr. and Margaret Kolar, and John III and Madison Gabler.
The family is grateful to Dr. Carla Murphy and the Clarksburg Medical Group, Nurse Melissa Farley McGuire, Meaford Hospital, Dr. Sunit Das and the Neurosurgery and Trauma team at St. Michael’s Hospital, and Adrienne Wood and the nursing team at Right at Home, Collingwood.
There will be a small service for immediate family members and a celebration of life to follow in the spring of 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Wally’s memory can be made to the Meaford Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Concussion Centre, UHN Foundation or call 416-603-5300. Wally’s philanthropy continues after his death, donating his brain to the Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital (UHN) for medical research.
