A former Whitehorse city councillor best known as a champion of community sports passed away on Good Friday.

Gerry Thick served two terms on city council in the late 1980s into 1991, but was better known as the general manager of Northland Beverages, the local Pepsi distributor who sponsored softball and other sports teams.

Thick was 78.

The softball complex in Takhini was named after Pepsi – the Pepsi Softball Centre – while Thick was in charge of the company.

On a weekend of ball at the complex, you could count on seeing him there.

“He just loved softball,” long-time friend Craig Tuton said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

“Let’s just say further to that, that he loved the sport, plus he got along with all the people involved – the players, the coaches, and the spectators.

“I think the best way to put it is I do not think you will meet too many people like Gerry Thick.”

Tuton was the coach of the Pepsi Jets, the Yukon’s adult representative fastball team in the 1980s.

He said Thick was passionate about anything he did and he worked hard at anything he did.

Computers were also a passion of his, and he was a master at working with them and fixing them, said Tuton.

“He did mine a number of times, and to see him go through that computer was amazing. He had magic in his fingers.”

But Thick would not take money for his time.

“He’d just say, ‘I’ll get it next time,’ but he never, ever collected, so you would meet him at the ballpark and buy him a beer; that is the kind of guy he was,” Tuton said.

“He is going to be missed, no doubt about that.”

Tuton noted that Thick had been scheduled to retire from Northland Beverages at the end of the month.

Dave Stockdale served on city council with Thick for two terms back in the 1980s.

“He was a bit of an inspiration to me,” Stockdale, the longest-serving member of council in history, told the Star Tuesday.

“I liked Gerry. He was very friendly. He worked well on council and was very level-headed.”

Thick took a run at the mayor’s position in the 1991 municipal election, but was unsuccessful, losing to Bill Weigand.

He ran again for a councillor position in the 1994 election, but was again unsuccessful.

Stockdale said Thick never slowed down, and was a tremendous community supporter who sponsored many sports.

“He was a straight shooter who would let you know what he thought,” said the former councillor.

Thick, he said, did not hold a grudge on council even when he lost a vote, and accepted the decision.

“I just loved working with him.”

Stockdale said the late councillor was an international leader with his decades of involvement with the Arctic Winter Games International Committee.

Thick announced in 2014 he would be retiring from the international committee after 30 years of involvement, the last 20 serving as its president.

A family obituary appearing on p. 5 of today’s Star says he was a remarkable man with a heart of gold.

“... He was passionate about working hard for the youth of the North and was always an advocate for all things sports.”

Thick was inducted into the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 as a Builder.

His family notes there will be no service at Thick’s request.

“... But if you happen to find yourself up at the ballpark on Dustball Friday, raise a glass because he will be there in spirit.”

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, people make donations to the Kids Recreation Fund through Sport Yukon.