Remembering Gayle Garlock

On August 26, 2019, we lost Gayle Garlock, author of Canadian Binders’ Tickets and Booksellers’ Labels. In the course of that project several years ago, it became apparent that Gayle was increasingly unable to handle his end of the copy editing and revision process, and he was subsequently diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. He was, however, determined to see his study published, and we at Oak Knoll worked closely by telephone and email with Gayle and his wife Barbara to complete the book and see it through to publication in late 2015, to reviews that hailed it as “pioneering and truly impressive” (Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America).

Gayle was one of the first people with dementia to receive approval to die with medical assistance under Canadian Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) legislation. A documentary about his case aired on CBC Radio on October 27, including the results of extensive interviews with Barbara and Dr. Stefanie Green, the head of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers (CAMAP), who provided the medical assistance to Gayle. Gayle, Barbara, and Dr. Green agreed to the documentary because they wanted their story to reach those who might be helped by it, and so we include a link to the CBC page (click HERE) where a description and the broadcast itself can be found.