INSIDE “And the world will never be the same” card from Erin – daughter of Sue & Ted Kelly
Gerry did not want a funeral or a wake. He may not have wanted this website but I wanted something for his sons and granddaughters to know him from other perspectives.
For our dear friends, the idea of a memorial bench to commemorate him came to me early on. A gift to our community.
As part of a Town beautification project, Gerry designed a bike rack and I wanted to somehow use his design in a bench. Ten bike racks were eventually installed around Lunenburg. One of them across from St. John’s Anglican Church (National Historic Site) was in some sort of accident and its remains are incorporated into the design. I think Gerry would like the idea of its re-use and re-purpose.
Bike rack when installed
Injured & repaired ??? bike rack
I talked about my idea with a good friend and former client of Gerry’s, Sharon Fox Cranston. Sharon is also an artist who featured Gerry in her recent book Lunenburg Confined COVID-19. See other works: cranstongallery.com
Day 9 – Gerry Rolfsen Gerry riding his bike inside during self isolation. A virus cannot stand between him and his passion. Where there is a will, there is a way
Sharon came up with a fabulous design that “reflects the bike stands while still being clean and simple”
Gerry’s Bench as imagined by Sharon
Metal fabricator – Nic Côté – has agreed to take on this commission. You can see some of Nic’s other creations on his website: heavymetalmanipulation.com
I wanted Gerry’s bench to be where the Rotary bench is in this picture.
In front of 18-20 King Street, Lunenburg
I can look out my apartment window and see it. Scott Sherman, owner of The Old Post Centre, is one of Gerry’s former architectural clients and has agreed to the placement of the bench on his property. Thank you to our Town of Lunenburg staff for moving the existing bench to make way for the new one.
And there are bike racks near by. From that bench, you look up King Street to Town Hall, the Bandstand, and the Norwegian Monument among the other war memorials. Down King Street is the harbour, waterfront, and view to Bluenose Golf Course.
Some family and friends have already contributed towards this bench. Thank you for your generosity. I am not actively soliciting donations – NO go fund me here – but if you want to give something, just contact me and we can make arrangements
Gerry waving to me up on the sundeck on his way to Thursday morning market
