The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

EXUMA Police say charges will be brought against the driver of the grey Nissan, which struck and killed two Canadian animal activists last week. Jill Gandza, 55, and her 57-year-old husband, Ron, were walking home from a local hotel around 10pm when the accident occurred. Mr Gandza was pronounced dead at the scene while Mrs Gandza died of her injuries at the local clinic, later that night.

They leave behind their 19-year-old son, Greg, who is in Canada.

Supt Macktavaus Daniels, officer-in-charge of the George Town Police Station, confirmed yesterday: “Yes, the driver will be charged. There’s a process that has to be followed and once that process is followed, the driver will be formally arraigned before the court.”

Supt Daniels could not say exactly what the driver, who is in his early 20s, will be charged with as “the file is under review.” But, because of the rumours circulating after the accident, Supt Daniels added that there was “no evidence to suggest” that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Friends of the Canadian couple remember them as animal lovers and avid supporters of the country’s potcake population. The couple would find homes for local dogs, foster dogs in their own home, and even take potcakes to Canada for adoption.

Susan Glinton remembers Mrs Gandza as “one of the most caring and selfless people that I know.”

She said: “Getting potcakes up to Canada and adopted to good families was so important to her. She recently bought a second hand scooter so that they wouldn’t have to rent a car every time they went to their apartment in Exuma. She said the more she saved on a car was the more money she had to spend on the potcakes. She said her husband can’t figure her out, but there is a method to her madness!

“She absolutely adored the Bahamas and the people of the Bahamas. She made great friends in Nassau and Exuma. She said “Exuma and being on the beach and in the ocean was her ‘happy place.’ She was one of those people who dove into Bahamian culture.”

Tip Burrows, executive director of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, said that although she did not know the couple in person, she communicated with Mrs Gandza on-line.

“She assisted with helping a number of our puppies get to Canada, and her husband drove all the way to Buffalo one time last summer to pick up a puppy,” Ms Burrows said. “I found her to be warm, kind and compassionate, and it was always a delight to interact with her. Her joy of life and love of family and animals was apparent.”

Holly Walters was another on-line friend of Mrs Gandza.

“I only knew Jill through Facebook but felt that she was one of my close friend because she shared her life with all of us,” Ms Walters said.

“She also took the time to send special personal notes to you. Jill and I e-mailed each other about my surgery. She was so concerned that it seemed like I was her best friend. I felt that I could reach out to her. I only wish I could be half the person she was.”

Jacqueline Ireland, a long-time friend of the couple, told The Tribune: “I have known this wonderful couple my entire life.”