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John GRAY Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for John GRAY
28 Entries
Jane MOWAT Martin
July 5, 2021
John & I were born 4 days apart, on Chicora Avenue in 1937, & attended Brown School together until grade 8. We lost touch after that, until decades later when Mayor Mel Lastman called in the Army to deal with Toronto's large dump of snow. John then wrote an article about Toronto's big snowstorm of 1944, in the Globe and Mail in which he described having buried me alive in
snow that year. We were about 7 years old. Many friends drew the article to my attention, so I phoned the Globe, asked for John, & jokingly told him he narrowly escaped my Daddy's wrath for his dastardly deed. We had a good laugh, & a great conversation, after so many years of no contact. Having read the above comments, I wish I had kept in contact with him - such an interesting & knowledgeable guy.
My great & heartfelt sympathies to his wife, as I lost the love of my life 2 years ago after 63 years of marriage, so know the agonies of this heart-breaking loss.
Boni Wagner-Stafford
October 28, 2020
I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of John Gray. He was my father-in-law for eleven years when I was married to his son Colin. He was an engaging, elegant conversationalist, great father, grandfather, partner to eLizabeth, and a really good man. He adopted my son Morgan and treated him as one of his own. My sympathies to Colin, Rachel, Josh and their families and of course to Elizabeth. Sympathies all round :-(
Emile and Karen Goulet
October 13, 2020
John Gray was our lake neighbour. He will be missed as well as the opportunity to hear all of the the treasure trove of stories and anecdotes from a truly interesting and gifted life.
Susan Bourette
October 7, 2020
I had one extraordinarily memorable assignment with John in Newfoundland on New Year’s eve on the millennium. He was so much fun to work with and could spin gold on demand. But mostly what I remember about John was his great decency. I truly looked up to him. This loss makes me very sad. My most heart-felt condolences to his family.
Wendy Miller
October 2, 2020
I met John and Elizabeth in the late ‘80s - parents of my dear friend Rachel. As most have expressed here, I was taken in by John’s kindness, intelligence, and charm. He took care to ask about my life and challenged me in political discussions. He was incredulous that I knew so little about the collapsing Soviet Union; I assured him my Cold War knowledge centred on the proxy wars of Central America. I recall one such conversation while listening to Maria Muldaur sing her old repertoire at the Horseshoe Tavern. Later, in the mid-90s, he took care to welcome my new Spanish partner into the Gray fold - a fellow journalist who benefited greatly from John’s wisdom and expansive knowledge of Canadian history and politics. His generosity extended to our children, who he welcomed many times to their cottage. I am forever grateful for his warmth and humour over 30 years of friendship and I will miss him.
Wendy Miller
Jim Munson
October 2, 2020
John Gray was many things. A good friend, a really good dad , a loving partner of Elizabeth and a great writer. I feel it’s always important when writing a few words about somebody you know so well to remind others of
a persons life time work. What I do is go back and read the stories they wrote. It puts life into perspective. John was one of the best in the news business.
Marina Strauss
October 1, 2020
I was lucky to have arrived at the Globe's Ottawa bureau in the early 1980s when John was its bureau chief. He was the model leader -- kind, wise and a fine writer -- and I am so grateful I got to work with him. I got to know Elizabeth a bit, and will always remember their sweet and intelligent relationship. My sincere condolences to the family. RIP John.
Julie Mollins
September 30, 2020
We’re so sorry for your loss. We have fond memories from Ottawa and Toronto. Condolences and big hugs from all the Mollinses.
Linda Weichel and Timothy Neesam
September 29, 2020
We met John only a few times at parties at Rachel's home, but through our friendship with Rachel, we've seen how close they were, what a big role John (and Elizabeth) have played in their family's life, and what a charming, vibrant chronicler and adventurer he was. May he rest in peace after a well-lived life.
Mike Trickey
September 29, 2020
I met John in Israel, where I was a young and out-of-my depth reporter and he was a much revered journalistic legend. He came to my breakfast table to introduce himself and offer any help I might need. It was an act of kindness and generosity that I soon learned was at John's core. Later, when we were both posted to Moscow, he, again was generous with his time and advice. He and Elizabeth made me a regular at their apartment where there was much laughter and much wisdom (and vodka) dispensed. I last talked to John in May. He was tired, but he was mostly worried about Elizabeth. That was John. I was very proud to be his friend. My heart goes out to Elizabeth, Rachael, Colin and Josh.
Pat and Paul Sanagan
September 29, 2020
Rachel - we are so sorry for your loss. What a hard year this has been. And then the death of a special person. Wretched.
Juliet O'Neill
September 29, 2020
John was a gentleman, a scholar, an outstanding writer, so handsome and kind, generous with his time and knowledge. I got to know John and Elizabeth in Moscow as friends, colleagues, and neighbours, riding the roller coaster of history as the Soviet Union collapsed.
We lived in adjacent apartment blocks, a gigantic statue of Lenin in the square beneath us, a building across the street we were certain was a Russian listening post. (Our buildings were for foreigners only.) My memories of John are as treasured as those tumultuous times.
My heart goes out to his family.
Juliet O'Neill
Jean Shortill
September 28, 2020
I am sorry to hear about John's passing.
My condolences to all family members.
Jean Shortill
Dick Gordon
September 27, 2020
In the early nineties, John and Elizabeth were in Moscow; John crisply and elegantly describing the post-Soviet world for Globe readers, and "Binks" (as John often referred to Elizabeth) continuing to delight audiences with her work for Sunday Morning.
That's when we arrived, young daughters in tow. I had the daunting assignment of trying to replace the inimitable Jeannette Matthey, reporting for CBC radio news.
John and Elizabeth were unbelievably generous with their knowledge of the beat, and their advice on surviving Moscow. They shared all their collective experience as domestic and foreign correspondents; how to choose and tell stories, and how to find relevance and insight into the lives of ordinary people in places with unpronounceable names.
I remember watching John and Elizabeth working together in Astrakhan along the shore of the Caspian Sea, tracing the sale of illicit caviar. Every time we'd get a bit closer to the smugglers, John would look at the rest of us with that eye-twinkling smile of his, and Elizabeth would respond with that deep smoky chuckle of hers. And we'd move on.
John and Elizabeth were also tremendously generous with their weekend evenings. Hosting visitors and other reporters, their cooking and eating and drinking and the story-telling would take us way too late into the night, with our daughters dozing in adjacent bedrooms.
That Moscow window was just one of the many in their long reporting careers, but foreign postings have a way of bringing people close together, and that time we spent with Elizabeth and John Gray was a time we'll always treasure. Farewell John.
William Thorsell
September 27, 2020
A fine and eloquent friend, a valued journalist, a good man. His legacy is strong.
William Thorsell
Andrew Phillips
September 26, 2020
Very sorry to learn of John's passing. What a fine reporter and writer, and a generous colleague to those of us based in London in the late 80s and early 90s and fortunate enough to encounter him on the road throughout Europe. Condolences to Elizabeth and all his family.
Masha Shaumian
September 26, 2020
It is very, very sad news about our dear friend, John Gray. He was a great professional, a delightful boss, and a wonderful person. I worked with him in the Moscow bureau of The Globe and Mail in 1992-93. It was a time of many dramatic developments in Russia and the former USSR. John was deeply engaged in writing about all this. We travelled in war zones; interviewed presidents, field commanders and mafia bosses. We went on police raids against black caviar poachers in Astrakhan, and we met the actual poachers too. John made the professional acquaintance of many of the key personalities who shaped Russia in the 1990's, and his writings about them and their works will stand the test of time. I have the warmest memories of the friendship we developed over this period, as well as with his wonderful, smart, deeply professional and beautiful partner, Elizabeth. What stands out in my memory is John's subtle sense of humour, his personal generosity and always high-class manners. We know that John and Elizabeth are absolutely devoted to their beautiful children and grandchildren. On behalf of my family, who all recall John with affection and admiration, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to his entire family. We will always remember you, dear John.
Masha Shaumian
Friend
Barbara Freeman
September 25, 2020
He was certainly a fine, well respected journalist and a great guy. My deepest sympathy to my former colleague at CBO radio, Elizabeth Gray. They were quite a team.
Pat Howard
September 25, 2020
He was just eighteen and working at the Québec Chronicle Telegraph for the summer when my husband, Frank brought him home for dinner. Such a bright, kind and open kid with an unstoppable sense of humour. And what a lovely, generous person and talented writer he turned out to be. He and Binks were born within a few days of each other and to be in their atmosphere was to be enchanted. Saying good-bye to John Gray is hard. My regretful condolences to his loved ones.
Rosemary
September 25, 2020
Dear Gray Family:
Biggest hugs to all of you, so difficult to lose the people we love. John was a beautiful writer and an exceptional journalist. As a kid going to Lisgar, Rachel told me about her Mum and Dad’s exploits in journalism and it inspired me to follow in their footsteps. On that path I met Colin and Laurie, what a wonderful family. Best to you all, Rosemary Thompson
Brian Nelson
September 25, 2020
I worked with him for years on Parliament Hill as a younger novice to the trade of journalism. John was a wonderfully smart reporter and great writer and a very good human being. My condolences to his family and friends.
Jan Wong
September 25, 2020
My first foreign editor, he was steady, fun, and wise. His own writing was stellar — a great wordsmith. RIP John Gray.
Mike Duffy
September 25, 2020
John was a true gentleman.
Always fun to be with and a joy to read.
Sincere condolences to Liz and John's family.
Mike Duffy
Pauline Couture
September 25, 2020
Such a lovely, intelligent, compassionate and gracious man. Deepest condolences to Liz and the family.
Irwin Block
September 25, 2020
So sad and sorry to learn that John has died. Apart from his recognized prowess as a top-flight journalist, John was a great guy, always upbeat when I saw him and fun to be with, especially with Elizabeth by his side, whom he used to lovingly call "Binks," her maiden name. I have some fine memories of good times in Ottawa in the 1960s ...
Andrew Caddell
September 25, 2020
John was one of the best and kindest members of the Press Gallery to a 23 year old know nothing student reporter back in 1975. He treated me as if I knew something, and could make a contribution. I learned so much from him, but I also learned respect and grace. I loved reading his pieces from start to finish. He was a writer's writer and a walking encyclopedia. I am so sorry he is gone. My condolences to his family for his loss.
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