Jérôme Hosmer
Rémick III
1928 – 2005
"I wish to return something to geology, so that others may benefit by our fascinating science."
Canadian geoscience lost a loyal friend when Jérôme (Jerry) H. Rémick III passed away in his Québec City apartment on March 1, 2005. He was 76 years old.
A Life of Service
Jerry was an ardent admirer and supporter of the Geological Association of Canada for all his adult life. He spent his professional career with the Ministère des Ressources naturelles, Québec, where he was a diligent and respected geologist.
Later in life, he became the principal benefactor of the Canadian Geological Foundation. And for hundreds in Canada and around the world (mostly unknown by many of his associates in the geoscience community), Jerry was a renowned numismatist.
Quick Facts
- Born:
- September 11, 1928 — Detroit, Michigan
- Education:
- B.Sc. & M.Sc. Geology, Michigan College of Mining and Technology
- Career:
- 38 years with Québec Ministère des Ressources naturelles
- GAC Member:
- 50+ years (1952–2005)
Jerry's personal medal, showing the Remick family coat of arms and the inscription "Remich, Luxembourg to County York, Maine – 1651", commemorating his forebear Christian Remich who emigrated from Luxembourg in 1651.
Geological Career
Field Geologist
His first geological field work was with the Québec Department of Mines beginning in the summer of 1952. By 1955 Jerry was chief of his own field parties in Québec.
In 1957 he emigrated to Canada to work full time with the Québec government. For the next 20 years he carried out field work—first doing regional geological mapping southwest of the town of Chibougamau, and later carrying out reconnaissance mapping using large helicopter-supported field parties in the James Bay area.
Information Geologist
Jerry hung up his field boots in 1977 and became an information geologist. Here he was a tireless and gracious provider of geoscience data, developing a consulting room where all the information holdings of the Ministère were available for viewing.
In 1998, the Québec Section of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum awarded its Section Medal to Jerry for his role in facilitating easier communications between members of the mining industry and the research community.
Receiving the GAC Distinguished Service Award in Ottawa, 1997
50+ Years with the GAC
Throughout his life, Jerry was devoted to the GAC. He joined the Association as a student in 1952 and was elected Fellow in 1955, becoming one of the few 50-year-plus members in Canada at the time of his passing.
By 1968, Jerry was volunteering for GAC's Membership Committee, becoming Committee Chairman for 14 years from 1970 to 1983. After stepping down as Chair, he continued to serve as a committee member until 1991. His 24 years of dedicated committee work for the Association is a record that will likely be unsurpassed!
Legacy to the Canadian Geological Foundation
Jerry's long-held desire to financially support Canadian geoscience activities led him to establish two trust funds that continue to support the community today.
Remick Fund value by 2004
Contributed to GAC Trust Fund
Fund growth from his bequest
Around 1990, Jerry decided to act on his long-held desire to financially support Canadian geoscience activities. The CGF Jérôme H. Remick III Endowment Trust Fund was formally established in 1994, with Terms of Reference that have a strong bias toward student activities and the public awareness of science—two topics of abiding interest to Jerry.
Jerry named the CGF as the principal beneficiary of his estate in his Last Will and Testament. His rare coin and medal collection was auctioned as per his instructions, resulting in a doubling or tripling of the CGF Fund in his name—ensuring a permanent legacy of support for worthwhile geoscience projects in Canada.
A Passion for Numismatics
If geology was Jerry's love, then numismatics was his passion.
He started collecting coins as a teenager in the 1940s, when one of his aunts gave him a Newfoundland coin. This grew into a life-long pursuit that resulted in a large and rare collection by the time of his retirement.
Jerry was a founding member of the Canadian Numismatic Association (CNA) in 1950, and was a member of more than 70 numismatic clubs in 12 countries. He had over 2,000 articles on numismatics published worldwide, and was best known for editing and co-authoring the 576-page Guide Book and Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins.
CNA J. Douglas Ferguson Award (2001)
The "Logan Medal" of Canadian numismatics
Jerry's 2001 Christmas Medal: an angel holding the dove of peace on the obverse, with his trademark symbols on the reverse—quartz crystals (geology), a penny (numismatics), and a beaver (his adopted home of Canada).
A Personal Remembrance
By R. Frank Blackwood, CGF President
Typing one of his (in)famous letters!
Photo courtesy of Canadian Coin News
Jerry Remick was a wonderful man. After my initial visit to see Jerry in Québec City in 1993, I paid him a visit most years after becoming a member of the Canadian Geological Foundation in 1996. We would have dinner with a bottle (or two) of red wine at his favourite restaurant in Old Québec, and discuss the activities and investment portfolio of the Foundation, and many other things.
Over the years, through these visits and innumerable letters (in his inimitable style on an old portable typewriter that required pervasive handwritten corrections!), we developed a friendship that I greatly cherish. He was a hospitable, generous man with a profound love and intelligent regard for his science, profession and hobby.
And I will always remember our sharing the shock and disbelief of 9/11 (Jerry's birthday) as we sat together in my hotel room in Québec City, watching the horror and devastation on television.
I went to Québec City on March 8, 2005, to pay my respects to Jerry one last time. It was the day of his burial and it was my honour to represent the Geological Association of Canada and the Canadian Geological Foundation.
At the funeral home, Jerry's coffin was adorned with beautiful flowers and a mounted photograph—a picture of him proudly receiving the GAC Distinguished Service Award. At the end of the ceremonies, one of his numismatic friends produced a bottle of Jerry's favourite champagne, and we drank to a gentle man and a fine life.
"He was a person of patience, wisdom, and infinite courtesy and kindness."
— Fenton Remick, Jerry's brother