Deer Isle, Maine - Gerald Wheeler, formerly of Montreal, who devoted his professional life to performing, conducting, and directing music in service of God, has passed away April 21, 2026, at the remarkable age of 97.

He is survived by his wife, Jean (Penney), eight children, 18 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many dear family members, friends and colleagues.

Born in Richmond, Surrey, England, in 1929, to Rosina and William Wheeler, Gerald began piano lessons as a young boy. When he and his family were evacuated from London during WWII to a vicar's residence in Yorkshire, he discovered a small pipe organ in the parlour; there began his life-long passion for organ music.

Returning to London at the age of 14, Gerald's first organist role was playing the Wurlitzer at the local film house. He went on to become organ scholar at Southwark Cathedral, sub-organist at St. Paul's, where he trained the choir for the late Queen's coronation service, followed by three years on scholarship at the Royal College of Music. He was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists in 1955.

He studied with many distinguished teachers, including Herbert Howells, and taught numerous gifted students, among them David Gedge and Richard Marlow, who would become life-long friends of Gerald's.

Gerald emigrated to Canada in 1956 to become director of music at St. Matthew's, Ottawa, serving nine years before moving to Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal in 1965 - a post he held for 31 years. He taught at McGill University and Marianopolis College and conducted various choirs, including the Canadian Centennial Choir Ottawa. Gerald adjudicated music festivals and performed with the McGill Chamber Orchestra and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, inspiring thousands of choristers, musicians, and students during his many years of teaching, conducting and playing.

In 1996 Gerald retired from the Cathedral to move with Jean to Maine, where he became director of music for St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church and oversaw the installation of their new pipe organ. They also ran the Inn at Ferry Landing on Deer Isle, where Gerald would often delight guests with impromptu piano concerts on his beloved Steinway.

Admired for his improvisational musical skills, Gerald could stretch any hymn tune into a 20 minute "variations on a theme." He could transform any Beethoven sonata into a jazz standard and back again to its original form with dazzling artistry. Music flowed through his veins. His gift of music will be forever cherished and greatly missed.

In his final hours, Gerald was surrounded by his family, who lovingly sang to him some of the tunes he had taught them over the years. In his honour, donations to the music fund at St. Francis by the Sea or First Congregational Church, Blue Hill, would be appreciated.