Fricis Gailītis 1907–1969

Sources

1. AEF DP Registration Record (duplicate), Gailitis Fricis-Andrejs, DocID 67114549.

   (1) G11095303 | (2) GAILITIS FRICIS-ANDREJS | (6) 6.1.1907 | Matkules | Tukuma | Latvia | (7) Ev.-lut. | (10) Fricis Gailitis | (11) Lizete Novadnieks | (14) Mag. math. | (15) ģimn. skolotājs

   Born 6 January 1907 in Matkule parish, Tukums district, Courland, Latvia to Fricis Gailītis and Lizete Novadnieks, as recorded on his 27 August 1945 Hanau DP-2 registration card (which identifies him as 'Mag. math. / ģimn. skolotājs' — the mathematics teacher who emigrated to Canada in 1948 and married Mirdza Sirlaka in Toronto in May 1955).

2. Peter's tree, danenberg.sql, 2007–2015, personae 17, provenance.
3. AEF DP Registration Record (duplicate), Gailitis Fricis-Andrejs, DocID 67114549.

   (13) LAST PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR RESIDENCE JANUARY 1, 1938: Riga | Latvia

   Recorded on his 27 August 1945 Hanau DP-2 card with last permanent residence (1 January 1938) in Rīga, Latvia, where he worked as a gymnasium mathematics teacher ('Mag. math. / ģimn. skolotājs').

4. AEF DP Registration Record (duplicate), Gailitis Fricis-Andrejs, DocID 67114549.

   (1) G11095303 | Date: 27.VIII.45 | Assembly Center No. Hanau 27

   Registered on 27 August 1945 as a Latvian displaced person at Assembly Center Hanau 27 (Hanau, Hesse, Germany; Reg. No. G11095303) before emigrating to Canada in 1948.

5. "Latviešu dzīve Kanādā — Toronto", obituary item for Fricis Gailītis (Laiks, 1 October 1969, p. 2), Laiks, Periodika issue 754235, p. 2, article DIVL158 (doc 53218246), column "Toronto" under the banner "Latviešu dzīve Kanādā", second bullet. Issue date per Periodika 01.10.1969; masthead not read..

   F. Gailītis Latvijā strādāja par skolotāju kopš 1929.g. Pēc ieceļošanas Kanādā, nostrādājis līguma gadu "Hydro" sabiedrības būvēs, viņš bija viens no pirmajiem latviešu skolotājiem Kanādā, kas pēc papildstudijām un pārbaudījumu izturēšanas ieguva vidusskolas skolotāja tiesības. Nelaiķis piederēja studentu kosporācijai Fraternitas Academica un Toronto pēc Sv. Andreja draudzes nodibināšanas vairākus gadus bija tās kasieris.

   Translation: F. Gailītis worked as a teacher in Latvia from 1929. After arriving in Canada, having worked a contract year on the construction works of the "Hydro" company, he was one of the first Latvian teachers in Canada who, after further study and passing examinations, obtained high-school teacher's qualifications. The deceased belonged to the student corporation Fraternitas Academica and, after the founding of St. Andrew's congregation in Toronto, was its treasurer for several years.

   Career as given in the same obituary item: teacher in Latvia from 1929; after emigration a contract year at "Hydro" construction works; then one of the first Latvian teachers in Canada to gain high-school qualification; member of the student corporation Fraternitas Academica; for several years treasurer of St. Andrew's (Sv. Andreja) congregation in Toronto. The sweep placed these in an unrelated finding; they are on this page. Compare the 1955 interview (pl-063), which says 16 years of teaching in Latvia and Germany.

6. "No namdara rīkiem atpakaļ pie skolas katedras" (Laiks, 6 July 1955, p. 2), Laiks, Periodika issue 978220, p. 2, article DIVL169 (doc 69560407), right-hand part of the page, left column of the article text. Issue date per Periodika 06.07.1955..

   Par „pionieri“ savā nozarē Kanādā, laikam būs jāuzskata LU matēmatikas maģistrs Fricis Gailītis, kas šopavasar pēc Ontario College of Education nobeigšanas ieguvis vidusskolas skolotāja tiesības un rudenī stāsies darbā. F. Gailītim aiz muguras 16 gadu skolotāja prakse Latvijā un arī Vācijā viņš darbojies par skolotāju latviešu ģimnāzijā Hanavā. Ieceļojis Kanādā 1948. g., viņš pirmās gaitas te sāka ar lāpstu un kapli, bet pēc līguma saistību izpildīšanas pievērsās namdara arodam. Arī to viņš darīja pamatīgi, piecus gadus apmeklēdams Toronto centrālā technikuma vakarskolu … Bet rudenī viņš atkal būs „baltās apkaklītes strādnieks“ un mācīs matēmatiku „Danforth Technical School“ audzēkņiem.

   Translation: As the "pioneer" in his field in Canada one will probably have to regard Fricis Gailītis, Master of Mathematics of the University of Latvia, who this spring, after finishing the Ontario College of Education, obtained secondary-school teacher's qualifications and will start work in the autumn. F. Gailītis has behind him 16 years of teaching practice in Latvia, and in Germany too he worked as a teacher at the Latvian gymnasium in Hanau. Having come to Canada in 1948, he began here with shovel and hoe, but after his contract obligations were fulfilled he turned to the carpenter's trade. He did that thoroughly too, attending for five years the evening school of the Toronto Central Technical School … But in the autumn he will again be a "white-collar worker" and will teach mathematics to the pupils of Danforth Technical School.

   Interview under the headline "No namdara rīkiem atpakaļ pie skolas katedras" (subhead: conversation with the mathematician Fr. Gailītis, the only known Latvian in Canada to have returned to teaching). Master of Mathematics of the University of Latvia; 16 years of teaching in Latvia and at the Latvian gymnasium in Hanau; came to Canada 1948; shovel work, then carpentry; five years of evening school at the Toronto Central Technical School; this spring (1955) finished Ontario College of Education and gets a high-school teacher's qualification; will teach mathematics at Danforth Technical School in the autumn. The right-hand column adds that of about 500 students at the college, F. Gailītis and two Poles were the only "jaunkanadieši" (new Canadians). Date: year from the Periodika issue date (06.07.1955); masthead not read. Not on this page: the sweep's Cochrane, Simcoe, Parkdale, church treasurer, Saturday school (those come from other articles not saved) and any mention of the Danenbergs or Sirlakas.

7. Pēc gadiem atkal katedrā: Arods, kam interesi sākuši pievērst arī Kanadas latvieši, Laiks, 28 Jul 1956, p. 2, Laiks, 28.07.1956 (masthead read), Periodika issue 884075, article DIVL146, doc 62953967, viewer p. 2.

   Skolotāja darbs pieder pie tām nozarēm, kur tikai ļoti reti latvieši Kanadā atjaunojuši vai no jauna uzsākuši karjēru. Toronto zināmi vēl tikai divi citi gadījumi. Latvijas universitātes matēmatiķis Fricis Gailītis ieguvis vidusskolas skolotāja tiesības un māca matēmatiku un fiziku kādā technikumā, bet Baiba Groskaufmane, kas Toronto beigusi kā vidusskolu, tā skolotāju kolledžu, tikai Kanadā sākusi skolotājas gaitas un kopš pag. gada strādā kādā pamatskolā. Iespējams, ka latvieši turpmāk šim „nepopulārajam“ arodam veltī vairāk intereses nekā līdz šim, jo, — kā apstiprina saruna ar A. Bāliņu, — ievērojot lielo skolotāju trūkumu viņu materiālais stāvoklis pēdējos gados jūtami uzlabots, un darba atrašana nav problēma. Turklāt F. Gailīša un A. Bāliņa gadījumi rāda, ka šis ceļš pieejams ne tikai jaunākai paaudzei, kas izglītību ieguvusi Kanadā, angļu valodā, bet ka valodas problēma nav nepārvarama arī vidējās paaudzes pārstāvjiem

   Translation: Teaching belongs to those fields in which only very rarely have Latvians in Canada resumed or newly begun a career. In Toronto only two other cases are known. University of Latvia mathematician Fricis Gailītis has earned secondary-school teacher's credentials and teaches mathematics and physics at a technical school, while Baiba Groskaufmane, who graduated both secondary school and teachers' college in Toronto, began her teaching career only in Canada and since last year has worked at an elementary school. It is possible that Latvians in future will devote more interest to this 'unpopular' profession than hitherto, since — as a conversation with A. Bāliņš confirms — in view of the great shortage of teachers their material position in recent years has perceptibly improved, and finding work is no problem. Moreover, the cases of F. Gailītis and A. Bāliņš show that this path is accessible not only to the younger generation educated in Canada in English, but that the language problem is not insurmountable for representatives of the middle generation either.

   Laiks, Sestdien, 1956. g. 28. jūlijā (masthead read on viewer p. 2), issue 884075, zone DIVL146, article headed 'Pēc gadiem atkal katedrā / ARODS, KAM INTERESI SĀKUŠI PIEVĒRST ARĪ KANADAS LATVIEŠI'. Full paragraph in the first column of the article read by eye (x 1660–2188, y 905–1845): besides Arnolds Bāliņš (who just completed Toronto Teachers' College to teach at Frankland Public School), only two other cases of Latvians resuming or beginning a teaching career in Toronto are known: 'Latvijas universitātes matēmatiķis Fricis Gailītis ieguvis vidusskolas skolotāja tiesības un māca matēmatiku un fiziku kādā technikumā, bet Baiba Groskaufmane, kas Toronto beigusi kā vidusskolu, tā skolotāju kolledžu, tikai Kanadā sākusi skolotājas gaitas un kopš pag. gada strādā kādā pamatskolā.' The paragraph adds that 'F. Gailīša un A. Bāliņa gadījumi rāda, ka šis ceļš pieejams ne tikai jaunākai paaudzei, kas izglītību ieguvusi Kanadā, angļu valodā, bet ka valodas problēma nav nepārvarama arī vidējās paaudzes pārstāvjiem'. (The unverified sweep's Cochrane/Simcoe/Parkdale/church-treasurer details do not come from this 1956 article.)

8. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I142 (person-6000142), GEDCOM lines 4144–4176.

   OCCU · Matemātikas skolotājs

9. PCIRO nominal roll for Canada (DocID 81739047), DocID 81739047.

   363. | GAILITIS | Fricis-Andrejs | DP | Latvia | Luth. | S | M | 6. 1.1907 | Matkule | Latvia | PC 20238

   Emigrated from Germany to Canada in 1948 on PCIRO nominal roll 81739047 (row 363, certificate PC 20238).

10. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I142 (person-6000142), GEDCOM lines 4144–4176.

    DEAT · 1968 · Toronto, Kanāda · CAUS Sirdslēkme

11. "Latviešu dzīve Kanādā — Toronto", obituary item for Fricis Gailītis (Laiks, 1 October 1969, p. 2), Laiks, Periodika issue 754235, p. 2, article DIVL158 (doc 53218246), column "Toronto" under the banner "Latviešu dzīve Kanādā", second bullet. Issue date per Periodika 01.10.1969; masthead not read..

    Ar sirdstrieku 23. septembrī miris ilggadīgais skolotājs, matēmatiķis 64 g.v. Fricis Gailītis, kas pirms pieciem gadiem pārdzīvoja sirdslēkmi un pavadīja slimnīcā pie divi mēneši. Otrdienas rītā viņšs savā darba vietā vidusskolā pēkšņi jutās ļoti slikti, daži kollēgas viņu nogādāja mājā. No turienes slimnieku ar ambulances auto noveda "Sunnybrook" slimnīcā. Kad ārsts paskaidroja, ka krize pārvarēta, un slimnieka dzīves biedre pēc kāda laika devās mājās, stāvoklis pēkšņi mainījās, un mājās viņu drīz sasniedza telefoniska vēsts, ka vīrs miris. … Aizgājēju 27. septembrī uz Jorkas kapsētas latviešu nodalījumu izvadīja māc. Ā. Čops, kas arī vadīja piemiņas svētbrīdi "Rosar" apbedīšanas mājā iepriekšējā vakarā. Nelaiķim paliek Toronto dzīves biedre Mirdza un brālis Latvijā.

    Translation: On 23 September long-time teacher, mathematician, 64 years old, Fricis Gailītis died of a heart attack; five years ago he had survived a heart attack and spent about two months in hospital. On Tuesday morning at his workplace, a high school, he suddenly felt very unwell, some colleagues took him home. From there the patient was taken by ambulance to "Sunnybrook" hospital. When the doctor explained that the crisis was over, and the patient's wife after some time went home, his condition suddenly changed, and at home the telephone news soon reached her that her husband had died. … On 27 September the deceased was escorted to the Latvian section of York Cemetery by Rev. Ā. Čops, who also led the memorial service at the "Rosar" funeral home the evening before. The deceased leaves in Toronto his wife Mirdza, and a brother in Latvia.

    Died 23 September (a Tuesday; the year is not printed in the item, 1969 is the issue year; Tuesday fits 23 Sep 1969) of a heart attack, aged "64 g.v." per Laiks. He fell ill at his workplace (a high school) that morning, was taken home, then by ambulance to Sunnybrook hospital, and died after his wife had gone home. Buried 27 September in the Latvian section of York Cemetery, Rev. Ā. Čops officiating, with a memorial service the evening before at the Rosar funeral home. Survivors: wife Mirdza in Toronto, a brother in Latvia. The page gives neither Mirdza's surname nor any relation to the Sirlakas. The age 64 conflicts with the sweep's Universitas-based birth year 1907 (age 62); that Universitas page is not saved. The sweep's Latvija Amerikā item (issue 93797) is not saved either.

12. Toronto news item on the death of Fricis Gailītis, Latvija Amerikā, 1969, p. 4, Latvija Amerikā, 1.10.1969 (library date), Periodika issue 86856, article DIVL204, viewer p. 4.

    ● Sanibrukas slimnīcā 23. septembrī 62 gadu vecumā miris matemātikas maģistrs Fricis Gailītis, kas jau agrāk slimoja ar sirdi. Tagad pēc jaunas sirds lēkmes ievietots slimnīcā, viņš drīz mira. F. Gailītis, kas piederēja pie korporācijas Frat. Academica saimes, pēc Latvijas universitātes matēmatikas fakultātes beigšanas strādāja par skolotāju Rīgas pilsētas 2. ģimnazijā. Arī pēc ieceļošanas Kanādā viņš palika uzticīgs šim darbam un bija viens no pirmajiem latviešu ieceļotājiem pēc otra pasaules kara, kas še ieguva vidusskolas skolotāja tiesības, pēc tam visu laiku darbojoties savā profesijā. Pēc aizlūguma Rosara bēru namā nelaiķi 27. septembrī pēdējā gaitā uz Jorkas kapsētas latviešu nodalījumu izvadīja māc. Ā. Čops. Par aizgājēju sēro dzīvesbiedre Mirdza un brāļi dzimtenē.

    Translation: At Sunnybrook Hospital on 23 September, aged 62, died Master of Mathematics Fricis Gailītis, who had previously suffered from heart trouble. Admitted to hospital after a new heart attack, he died soon afterwards. F. Gailītis, who belonged to the Frat. Academica fraternity, worked after graduating from the Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Latvia as a teacher at Riga City 2nd Gymnasium. After immigrating to Canada he remained faithful to this work and was one of the first Latvian immigrants after the Second World War to earn secondary-school teacher's credentials here, working in his profession ever after. After a service at Rosar's funeral home the deceased was conducted on 27 September to the Latvian section of York Cemetery by Rev. Ā. Čops. He is mourned by his wife Mirdza and by brothers in the homeland.

    Latvija Amerikā issue 86856 p. 4 (library date 1 Oct 1969), zone DIVL204, Toronto news column, full item read by eye (x 2580–3060, y 1020–1865): '● Sanibrukas slimnīcā 23. septembrī 62 gadu vecumā miris matemātikas maģistrs Fricis Gailītis, kas jau agrāk slimoja ar sirdi. Tagad pēc jaunas sirds lēkmes ievietots slimnīcā, viņš drīz mira. F. Gailītis, kas piederēja pie korporācijas Frat. Academica saimes, pēc Latvijas universitātes matēmatikas fakultātes beigšanas strādāja par skolotāju Rīgas pilsētas 2. ģimnazijā. Arī pēc ieceļošanas Kanādā viņš palika uzticīgs šim darbam un bija viens no pirmajiem latviešu ieceļotājiem pēc otra pasaules kara, kas še ieguva vidusskolas skolotāja tiesības, pēc tam visu laiku darbojoties savā profesijā. Pēc aizlūguma Rosara bēru namā nelaiķi 27. septembrī pēdējā gaitā uz Jorkas kapsētas latviešu nodalījumu izvadīja māc. Ā. Čops. Par aizgājēju sēro dzīvesbiedre Mirdza un brāļi dzimtenē.' Note that Latvija Amerikā prints '62 gadu vecumā' (aged 62), whereas Laiks (pl-064) prints '64 g.v.' (aged 64).

13. IN MEMORIAM: L!K!A! locekļi aizsaules ceļos — Fraternitas Academica, Universitas, Nr. 25, 1970, p. 57 (viewer p. 59), Universitas, Nr. 25, 01.04.1970, Periodika issue 968745, article DIVL494 (doc 68939825), viewer p. 59 (printed p. 57).

    Fraternitas Academica. Fil! Hermanis Kukainis, 1962. g., Latvijā; fil! Fricis Gailītis, 1969. g. 23. sept., Toronto; fil!dib! Gotfrīds Ābels, 1969. g. oktobrī, Latvijā.

    Translation: Fraternitas Academica. Alumnus Hermanis Kukainis, 1962, in Latvia; alumnus Fricis Gailītis, 23 Sept. 1969, Toronto; alumnus-founder Gotfrīds Ābels, October 1969, in Latvia.

    Universitas, Nr. 25, Spring 1970 (library date 01.04.1970; running foot '25 / UNIVERSITAS 57' read on viewer p. 59), issue 968745, article DIVL494 (doc 68939825), viewer p. 59 (printed p. 57), necrology roll headed 'IN MEMORIAM / L!K!A! locekļi aizsaules ceļos' (left column, x 150–880, y 1060–1130). Under 'Fraternitas Academica' in the right column (x 925–1685, y 640–720), read by eye: 'Fraternitas Academica. Fil! Hermanis Kukainis, 1962. g., Latvijā; fil! Fricis Gailītis, 1969. g. 23. sept., Toronto; fil!dib! Gotfrīds Ābels, 1969. g. oktobrī, Latvijā.' All eight saved pages of this section (968745-p52.jpg .. 968745-p59.jpg) were inspected by eye: this one-line fraternity necrology entry is the only mention of Fricis Gailītis in the issue. The unverified sweep's claimed citation 'Universitas, 01.04.1970, p. 71 (issue 973499, article DIVL630)' and its biographical quote ('Fricis Gailītis dzimis 1907. g. 6. janv. Matkules pag., 1926. g. beidzis Talsu vidusskolu un 1933. g. LU Matēmatikas fakultāti …') do not exist in this article or in periodika-searches.json.

14. "Latviešu dzīve Kanādā — Toronto", obituary item for Emma Sirlaka (Laiks, 17 October 1970, p. 2), Laiks, Nr.83 (17.10.1970), p. 2.

    Izvadot māc. A. Briedim, 13. oktobrī Jorkas kapsētas latviešu nodalījumā apglabāja 9. oktobrī 85 g. vecumā mirušo Emmu Sirlaku. Viņa pārmaiņus dzīvojusi gan ASV, kur paliek divas meitas ar ģimenēm, gan - pēdējos gados - Toronto pie meitas Mirdzas Gailītes un znota - matēmatikas skolotāja Friča Gailīša, kas mira pērngada septembrī. Emma Sirlaka nedaudzu gadu laikā pārcieta vairākas smagas operācijas, amputācijā zaudējot vispirms vienu, bet pirms diviem gadiem arī otru kāju.

    Translation: With Rev. A. Briedis officiating, Emma Sirlaka, who died on 9 October aged 85, was buried on 13 October in the Latvian section of York Cemetery. She had lived alternately in the USA, where two daughters survive with their families, and, in recent years, in Toronto with her daughter Mirdza Gailīte and son-in-law, the mathematics teacher Fricis Gailītis, who died last September. Within a few years Emma Sirlaka underwent several serious operations, losing first one leg and, two years ago, the other to amputation.

    Aged 85, so born about 1885. She spent her old age alternately in the USA, where two of her daughters lived with their families, and (latterly) in Toronto with her daughter Mirdza Gailīte and son-in-law Fricis Gailītis, a mathematics teacher who died in September 1969. She had had both legs amputated over the preceding years.

15. Kanada 7 dienās, Jaunais Apskats, Nr.17 (03.06.1955), p. 2.

    Laulāti Fricis GailītrM [sic] ar Mirdzu Sirlaks, Vilnis Brastiņš ar Dagmāru Dadzi - Pūriņu.

    Translation: Married: Fricis Gailītis to Mirdza Sirlaks; Vilnis Brastiņš to Dagmāra Dadze-Pūriņa.

    Married Fricis Gailītis; listed in the Toronto church news (Rev. A. Cops is named just before the list). Fricis Gailītis, a mathematics teacher, died in September 1969 (Laiks, 1970-10-17).

16. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, family F41 (I142 Fricis Gailītis × I500143 Mirdza Augusta Sirlaka).

    MARR 1956