Obituary for Robert Alexander Gray
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.” - JRR Tolkien
Robert Alexander Gray (8 April 1946) of Merrickville passed suddenly at home on 19 October 2022. He is survived and deeply missed by his wife of fifty-two years, Gillian, son Simon, daughter Brenna, son-in-law Devin, and his beloved grandson, Merrick.
Bob, as he was best known to his friends, was a true and eclectic autodidact — equally comfortable plumbing and wiring a heritage home, discussing the great theorists of psychology, or tinkering with and reviving any Apple product. His knowledge was far-ranging and he delighted in opportunities to share it with people he in turn could learn from, ideally while also sharing a laugh. Bob was known for his quick and sardonic wit that outshone his sometimes curmudgeonly first impression. He loved supporting music as much as he loved listening to it, whether at the pub or dragging gear across Eastern Ontario, roads he knew so well from years spent rallying with Gill as his navigator. He was most in his element before a classroom of undergraduates; ankle-deep in the cold waters of Bay of Fundy; on the race tracks of Mosport, St. Jovite, and NASCAR; or puttering in his garden with his constant companion, Kushie.
He leaves an absence that will be felt most acutely on Formula One racing Sundays; his favourite holiday, Groundhog Day; or anytime politics and life are being discussed.
Bob would never have sought memorialization or to impose his preferences on anyone left behind. But for those who would like a tangible way to share a memory, donations can be made to the Lanark Animal Welfare Society or the Perth and Smiths Falls Hospital Foundation.
Send a message of condolence or share a special thought of Robert on the Memory Wall above.
Not all those who wander are lost.” - JRR Tolkien
Robert Alexander Gray (8 April 1946) of Merrickville passed suddenly at home on 19 October 2022. He is survived and deeply missed by his wife of fifty-two years, Gillian, son Simon, daughter Brenna, son-in-law Devin, and his beloved grandson, Merrick.
Bob, as he was best known to his friends, was a true and eclectic autodidact — equally comfortable plumbing and wiring a heritage home, discussing the great theorists of psychology, or tinkering with and reviving any Apple product. His knowledge was far-ranging and he delighted in opportunities to share it with people he in turn could learn from, ideally while also sharing a laugh. Bob was known for his quick and sardonic wit that outshone his sometimes curmudgeonly first impression. He loved supporting music as much as he loved listening to it, whether at the pub or dragging gear across Eastern Ontario, roads he knew so well from years spent rallying with Gill as his navigator. He was most in his element before a classroom of undergraduates; ankle-deep in the cold waters of Bay of Fundy; on the race tracks of Mosport, St. Jovite, and NASCAR; or puttering in his garden with his constant companion, Kushie.
He leaves an absence that will be felt most acutely on Formula One racing Sundays; his favourite holiday, Groundhog Day; or anytime politics and life are being discussed.
Bob would never have sought memorialization or to impose his preferences on anyone left behind. But for those who would like a tangible way to share a memory, donations can be made to the Lanark Animal Welfare Society or the Perth and Smiths Falls Hospital Foundation.
Send a message of condolence or share a special thought of Robert on the Memory Wall above.