It is with great sadness that the family of Capt. Gerard Joseph Hanlon, 76, of Lunenburg, announces his sudden passing on Monday, March 20, 2017 at home.

Born in L’Ardoise, Cape Breton, he was a son of the late James and Catherine (MacIssac) Hanlon.

Gerard had a great love & respect for the sea and at the young age of fourteen, found the start of his seafaring career, first in a dory & by seventeen working as a deckhand on the side draggers. A hard worker, he made Captain by the ripe age of 18 aboard the Paulette Doreen, sailing out of Canso. In 1963, he and Karen moved to Lunenburg & under Capt. Douglas Mosher, he began working at Scotia Trawler. Captain of the James Lee & many other vessels. Gerard supported his family aboard the ships until retiring in 1986; that being said, the sea never left him. For over twenty years he shared the life he lived on the water at The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic & you could find him on the wharf or in the wheelhouse with crowds gathered as he spoke of his career, his knowledge and love of the fishery. Gerard had many talents & found enjoyment in woodworking. He began building Adirondack chairs (which Karen painted), a hot commodity among friends and family. He loved reading and CBC radio. His cooking and baking skills will be greatly missed, especially the weekly Sunday morning coffee and his famous tea biscuits, where everyone was welcome. Gerard was a tremendously kind, patient, much loved and respected man and will be missed by many, including “Mossie”, who was more commonly referred to as “Cat” by Gerard.

Gerard is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Karen, his proud daughters, Elizabeth (Craig Munroe) Hanlon, Sharon (Jay Morash) Hanlon-Morash, and Kimberley Hanlon, all of Lunenburg, brother Terrence (Jeanne Fay), Martin’s Point, grandchildren, Lauren (Jame Bird) Strickland and Riley Strickland, Libby Morash, step-granddaughter Samantha (Jon Smart) Munroe, as well as several nieces and nephews. He loved his family greatly… and he was adored in return.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by infant daughter Annette-Marie, brothers Paul and Kevin.

Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home, 11213, Hwy. # 3, Lunenburg. A Celebration of Gerard’s life will be held on Saturday at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (2nd Floor), Lunenburg, from. 2- 4 p.m. Interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the South Shore Regional Hospital in Gerard’s memory would be appreciated by the family.