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David Grey Obituary
At Sir George Williams University and Dawson College he was a professor at various stages of English Literature, Drama, Film and Photography where he was able to inspire a passion for the Arts in generations of students. He will be missed by his three children, Julian (Susan), Corin (Mireille), and Alexia (Laurenzo) and his grandchildren Liliana, London, Sumaya, Maksis and Cali.
A memorial will be held at the Rose Lounge at Dawson College from 3 to 5 pm and 6 to 9 pm on October 24, 2014. 3040 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, 7th floor, Room 7C-5. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Meals On Wheels/Santropol Roulant.
"Basically, at the very bottom of life, which seduces us all, there is only absurdity, and more absurdity. And maybe that's what gives us our joy for living, because the only thing that can defeat absurdity is lucidity." -Albert Camus
"What was that?
That was your life, mate.
Oh. That was quick. Do I get another?
Sorry, mate. That's your lot." -John Cleese
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
42 Entries
Assad
December 8, 2024
Had 4 classes with David in the early 2000s and had a great time chatting with him on a daily. I still remember our conversation about Karachi and cricket in the middle of a class!
Dan Ramos @danramoscomedy
November 8, 2023
My name is Dan Ramos and I took CIN COM at Dawson in 2001-2003 and he was the first teacher ever that I looked up to as a mentor, teacher and friend. I remember working my butt off trying to impress him with my sketches, he told his stories about his wild teenage years. I don't know what he saw in me, but he'd let me just take over the animation room after school/classes were done just so I can take advantage of the stop motions/camera equipment. He's one of the best storytellers I've ever listened to, he's made a huge mark in my life and I hope he's resting well with Hendrix, Picasso and Marilyn Monroe.
If David is somehow reading this...THIS is what I've been up to ever since I graduated from you class.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2872551/
https://www.torontomu.ca/the-creative-school/news-events/news/2022/09/rta-media-alum-dan-ramos-stars-in-netflix-series--phantom-pups-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJOl6MwDPxt/?hl=en
@danramoscomedy
Francine Belanger
October 13, 2021
He was my film teacher in 1983. I will never forget him. He was extremely charismatic and a very inspiring teacher.
Daniel Clarke
March 28, 2021
Wonderful guy.
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Jessica Hallenbeck
April 29, 2020
Just seeing this now. Was reminded of David from a short animation I just watched, thinking how much he would have loved the style. Sorry to hear of his passing. He was a very animated teacher with the best questions, assignments, and so supportive. I took his classes in 2000 and continue to make films. Thank you David
Joanna Goldman
April 26, 2020
David taught me animation at Dawson in the early 2000s. It is because of him that I find myself in a successful career that I love right now. Thanks for being an amazing teacher. I think about your class regularly.
Lydia Chiussi
April 28, 2019
David's enthusiasm for art, life and his students, was wildly contagious. I feel so lucky to have had him as a teacher at Dawson College. I just came across one of his brilliant, hand-lettered, student course manuals. He was one of a kind.
David Welch
May 2, 2016
I actually just learned of his passing. David was a wonderful teacher who helped me become creative and insighful. He was so passionate about what he did, and this was passed along to his students. RIP
Stephanie Lam
November 5, 2015
Sending my condolences. I met David online about a decade ago. We had sent emails for a while. I was a lost and confused teenager at the time and I remember that he had told me that I was at a crucial point in my life and guidance was important. I miss him so much. He was like a father, a brother, a mentor to me. He taught be so much about life. I am deeply saddened at the news of him passing. I wish I had known earlier or met him before. I remembered one of the many discussions we had we talked about New Horizons reaching Pluto, and now it's 9 years later. So many things have happened and I wish I could tell him about it. He was not only a dear friend but it feels like I've lost someone who was like family to me. I will never forget his kindness and compassion. He will remain in my heart forever.
Alexia Grey
October 21, 2015
Hope you've found your thrill on blueberry hill Dad! Miss you.
October 21, 2015
Andreas Kessaris
August 4, 2015
You were one of my favorites at Dawson. You taught me much about film, and life.
Saul Pincus
August 4, 2015
By the time I met David, I was seventeen and had already read dozens of books on filmmaking some of them inspiring. But David was my first contact with an inspiring teacher in the flesh. As others have pointed out here, he was eminently quotable. David was that rare combination: a great guy AND a great teacher, a committed eccentric who wore his passion on his sleeve, and always had time for others. Such a loss. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Martin Apelbaum
August 4, 2015
The child is the father of the man. I learned and was truly inspired. Thank you David wherever you may be.
Geneviève Roy
August 4, 2015
David was my film prod teacher at Dawson College 87-88
Thank you for those crazy exercices, in cam edit in Super 8, those were the days! For making me appreciate Norman McLaren... A few years later I gave film workshops at the NFB being inspired by you. Thank you for your friendship, sorry to have lost touch in the whirlwind of family life.
I remember how your kids were so previous to you like mine are to me.
Your legacy lives on!
I am sure up there you have a few projects on the go...
Cheers David!
Craig M
June 13, 2015
David was my teacher twice at Dawson in the early 80s. I will always remember how he inspired me with his enthusiasm for film and photography and made me see things in a whole new way. His passion, encouragement and brilliant sense of humor will stay with me always. Thank you David for everything you taught me.
My deepest condolences go out to you, his family.
Pablo Duran
May 19, 2015
David is one of the most inspiring persons I ever met.
He was my teacher in Film Production 1 at Dawson College. I remember when I enrolled I had no idea it was an animation course but I decided to give it a shot nonetheless. My drawing technique was always considered rudimentary at best however David saw beyond that. He constantly nurtured and encouraged me in the works we did in class.
I remember working in the lab and he had this great collection of cassettes. I heard Lou Reed's Transformer there for the first time.
I feel very lucky and priviliged to have had him as a teacher and shared many conversations with him over coffee between breaks
I was just quoting him yesterday to a friend. I remember him saying to the class when describing how to draw a chair: 'There are a million different ways to see a chair. It can be drawn from several angles and positions, there are infinite ways to see it'
My most sincere heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Alexia Grey
February 24, 2015
I still think of him every day and I always will, I always want to. Every achievement, every occasion I want to call him and tell him about. I wish he could know how much I miss him.
Rebecca MacDonald
November 30, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed my year with David. What started as me just wanting a way to give back to an older generation became an enjoyable journey of fascinating conversations and many good laughs. From the Hawaiian to chats after "Corrie" in his living room it was a pleasure to have know him. Much more than just an average volunteer experience. My sympathies to the family, he was a wonder-filled man I hope he lives on to his treasured grandchlidren in stories of him. Many, many stories.
Alexia Grey
October 30, 2014
I miss you Dad.
Ryan Day
October 26, 2014
David was such an amazing man and teacher, and one of the few who I could also call a friend. He was so interesting, he made me completely forget about the World Trade Center on September 11th, after we decided to continue on with our course that morning. It was only after I left the class and was walking towards the atrium, when I overheard some students speaking about the tragedy, that I realized he had mesmerized us with his wit and passion for teaching to such an extent that I had became so caught up in his teaching I had forgotten such an iconic moment in our lives. He will be missed, but never forgotten. My condolences to his family and friends.
Lee Watson
October 25, 2014
I met David online years ago. It came at a time when I was lost and in transition in my life. David was an inspiration to me and a wonderful friend. He taught me so many things and was always there with words of encouragement and sound advice. We kept in touch many years online by email, chat and other mesaging, wrote letters, sent post cards and spoke on the phone. I would have loved to have met him one day and given him a hug. He meant the world to me and I am forever greatful he was a part of my life. I will miss him forever.
Madeleine Thomas Ransom
October 24, 2014
Dave was my teacher at Dawson for an animation course. He was my favourite teacher - he was so passionate about the topic and really encouraged us. I also worked with him on a film project he developed from a screenplay he wrote called 'Hell' based on Courtney Love's band 'Hole'. My time working with Dave on this project merely served to confirm what I already suspected - he was a truly original and creative thinker, as well as a first class human being. My condolences to his family.
Will Aitken
October 24, 2014
To Maya, Alexia, Corin and Julian - David was an inspiring teacher, a valued colleague and one of the real-ist people I've ever met. He was hilarious to hang out with, the work his students turned out was the best! I'm sorry for your loss.
Bronia Sussmann
October 24, 2014
David touched me in many ways as a teacher and a human being. His classes were always inspiring and I still remember all his awesome projects he made us do. Thank you David for making my time at Dawson so much fun and I'll also remember the good times we had outside of school too!
Heidi Bodanis
October 23, 2014
One of my all time favourite teachers. I was fortunate that David was my prof most of my semesters at Dawson. I still speak of him today, over 20 years later. A life well spent -- a great inspiration! My condolences to his family and friends.
October 23, 2014
My sympathies to David's family. David's wit and creative energy will be long remembered by those who knew him, I'm sure.
Rammie Kamal
October 23, 2014
Our deepest sympathies to the Grey family for their loss and for the loss of someone who has had a profound and positive impact on a great number of people.
October 23, 2014
I have just learned of David's death. I am transported back to a classroom, if it could be called that, at the Viger campus in 1969-70. We had to climb through a broken opening in a wall to get to his classroom - it could have been the end of the earth or the beginning of knowledge and awareness. I was not one of his students but a close friend was and word had gone out, come to this class, listen to this man he has things to teach you, challenges to give you. The next year I had the good fortune to have both David and Mara as teachers at Sir George. We later found ourselves working at Dawson in a much better constructed Viger campus. David continued to inspire. The mark he left on me and so many of my contemporaries was significant. I remember him telling us to listen to Eric Satie and really concentrate on the experience of art and music. I will do so again for him. My deepest condolences.
Elaine Roy
Dipti Gupta
October 22, 2014
You will always be remembered my friend - you taught me a lot, to keep dreaming, imagining, creating from the depths of experience. I will always remember your stories, your comments on politics, stories of your travels.
I am glad that I spend time with you as and when you were available. Rahul, Aliya join me to send condolences to the family. We were fortunate to have David many a times at our home and to enjoy him play jazz with Aliya on the piano, to sit in the backyard and enjoy the quietness of the evening, listening to bugs….you will be missed my friend.
Thanks for being a wonderful teacher to me…there are many who you have touched and they will always remember you. Students never ever forget a great teacher! Rest in Peace.
October 22, 2014
I was a student of David's over twenty years ago. I have never forgotten him or the gifts he gave us through his teaching. An inspiration. Deepest sympathies. - Sean
Patrick Tee
October 22, 2014
David, I can't tell you how utterly delighted I am that I was able to reconnect with you, this past February, having lost touch for over 50 years. So it was a real pleasure getting together with you, having you meet my family and exchanging great memories from a bygone decade.
Well of course, it was an absolute joy having you as a fellow band member; I look back fondly on those hilarious 1958 road trips to Plattsburgh (shades of Jack Kerouac?), lodging in that rickety old barn that served as our hotel-cum-drive-in theatre, our gigs in those run-down smoky strip joints, the soccer games in Westmount Park, and that feisty lady cop hollering at us to put our shirts back on! Those youthful escapades made for an ample storehouse of truly wonderful memories. So David, I thank you for each and every one of them!!!
Bountiful cheers to you, and rest in peace, my good friend!
David plugging away at his tea chest bass.
Patrick Tee
October 22, 2014
Bruno Geslain
October 22, 2014
You touched me
Ben McKeown
October 22, 2014
David was an amazing person and a great shaper of young minds. He was a positive and honest influence in a strange time of our lives. Seventeen years later, I still think of him often, and can only hope to be half the teacher he was.
My sincere condolences to the Grey family.
Tim Fletcher
October 22, 2014
David was by the far the best teacher I ever had. He ignited in me a desire to live and create as wildly and joyfully as possible, and for that inspiration I will remain eternally grateful. David, you are what all teachers should be, inspired, irreverent, warm and filled with wonder.
Love and condolences to all family and friends of David.
Chris Wise
October 22, 2014
David was one of my favourite teachers at Dawson - so passionate and intelligent. He occupies a big space in my memory. My condolences go out to the Grey family.
Patricia Chiara
October 22, 2014
David was a teacher of mine back in the early days of Dawson. I don't remember many others, but he was memorable and unforgettable. I'm very sorry for your loss.
October 22, 2014
Great memories of a wonderful teacher.
Jeff Gandell
October 22, 2014
David Grey was my most important model for how profoundly a Cegep teacher can inspire his students. His influence on me as a person and teacher will stay with me forever, and every day.
Simon Davies
October 22, 2014
Dear Mara and Family,
Carmen and I want to extend our sympathies and condolences on the recent death of David.We have fond and lasting memories of time spent over food and wine, visits to the country and watching our children grow up together.Your loss is shared, stay strong to each other.
Letitia Wallis
October 22, 2014
My deepest condolences on the passing of your Dad. He has been a client of ours at Entraide Bénévole Métro since 2008. During that period, the 5 volunteers who have had the privilege of getting to know him - either as a friendly visitor or by shopping for his groceries, have all spoken highly of him, and always with affection.
Working with seniors, we are aware that they will not always be with us - however, we are always sad when they leave.
We will miss him!
Sincerely,
Letitia Wallis
Director
Entraide Bénévole Métro
[email protected]
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