PATRICIA ELAINE GODSON GRAY

Our beloved mother, Patricia "Pat" or "Tisha" or "Teasa" Gray passed peacefully, at her home in Richmond Hill, in the evening of December 12, 2024, just two months from her 91st birthday. Gordon, her husband and best friend for 68 years, predeceased her by only six months. Amazing mother to Donald (Jodie), David (Susan), Diane, Douglas, and Deborah; grandmother to Alexa (Shawn), Tara (Eric), Gordon, Morgan, Damian, Gray, Robin, Alexandra (Vahe), Julian, and Quinton; legendary great-grandmother to Graydon, Jackson, Tait, Isabella and Keller (with number six on the way!); and favourite aunt of Judy (Jim), Ann (Cam) and Ann-Marie (Larry), Mom was "Matriarch" of a great gene pool, and will forever be sorely missed by all of the above! Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, on February 17, 1934, to where her father had moved from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Patricia was a superstar at all that she turned her mind to. After her family moved to Toronto at a young age, she excelled in both athletics and academics, and graduated from Lawrence Park Collegiate as valedictorian, athlete of the year and top student. In 1956, while working as a badminton pro at the Granite Glub, she met Gordon, who was representing his club from Sudbury, at a tournament in Toronto. They were both multiple championship winners, and it was love at first sight! Later that year, Pat graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in arts and sciences, and they were married shortly thereafter. In addition to her full-time occupation raising five children and consulting on Canadian fine art acquisitions, Pat always served as a valued partner and trusted advisor in all that Gordon achieved, culminating with his (their) being awarded the Order of Canada in 2018, and being inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2020. Pat always remained active in her community, serving as a long-time volunteer at both the Art Gallery of Ontario and Royal Ontario Museum, and a crisis counselor at the Toronto Distress Centre. In 2006, Pat and Gordon endowed the Chair in Particle Astrophysics at Queen's University, which was instrumental in the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded to Dr. Art McDonald. Tireless philanthropists, Pat and Gordon established the Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation in 2010, which, to date, has supported over 60 Canadian and international wildlife charities, most notably the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Florida and African Wildlife Foundation in Kenya. In addition to her family and philanthropic work, Pat's passions included all types of sports and games. She was an avid competitor in badminton, tennis and equestrian events. She was also a passionate water skier, golfer, master gardener, dog trainer extraordinaire, and bridge player and instructor. For many years, her greatest non-family passion was aviation. She was determined to become a master pilot, and, as always, she succeeded. She earned her commercial licence, was certified in aerobatics, and competed in numerous international air races. Pat was a long-time active member of the Ninety-Nines, the international organization of women pilots. Tisha was, however, always happiest with her family and friends. She spent her entire life as a valued teacher and trusted confidante to her children and grandchildren. Whether at home in Richmond Hill, her much-loved cottage on Muldrew Lake, or winter home at the Loxahatchee Club in Florida, she was the centre of all family activities, and her loss will be felt forever. Patricia was cremated, and a family service was held in Richmond Hill. A Celebration of Life for both Pat and Gordon took place at their beloved Loxahatchee Club in February. To honour her memory, donations can be made to the Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation (www.grayanimalfoundation.org) or the African Wildlife Foundation (www.awf.org). Condolences may be offered to the family at gordon.gray.family@gmail.com.