We regret to advise of the death of Major-General Donald M. Gray, CD, RMC, PFSC, B.Sc, M.Eng, P.Eng, (Ret’d) on 16 Jul 2018 in Kingston, ON. Don Gray served a 35-year career with the Canadian Forces.
Don was born in Kingston in 1932 and was always a proud Kingstonian. He graduated from Rideau Public School and Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute (KCVI) where he played football, basketball and baseball. Don worked for Alcan, Fort Henry Guard, and Fashion Craft in his summers before he entered Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) in Victoria BC.
Don complemented his academic achievements at RRMC with membership on the football and basketball teams. He was also RRMC’s heavyweight boxing champion. After graduating from RRMC in 1954 he attended Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston and Queen’s University and was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in 1956 as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Civil Engineering Branch. His military career eventually took him through twelve moves in five Canadian provinces and to the USA.
Don served in the Navy up to the rank of Lieutenant Commander until 1968 when he was re-classified as a Military Engineer in the newly created Canadian Forces upon Unification. Shortly after he joined the Canadian Military Engineers Don was appointed Commanding Officer of 3 Field Squadron in Chilliwack, BC (1970-71). Among his many other postings throughout his career he served on exchange with the Civil Engineer Corps of the United States Navy for three years in Norfolk, Va, was on the RMC academic staff for three years, was Commanding Officer of 1 Construction Engineering Unit in Winnipeg, MB and was Base Commander of Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack (1980).
Don eventually rose in rank to Major-General and to the highest appointment within the Military Engineering Branch when he became the Chief of Construction and Properties at Canadian Forces Headquarters (1986-87) and was our Senior Serving Sapper for the years1985-1987. After he retired in 1987 he was retained by the federal government as a civilian with the Department of External Affairs as the Counselor (Finance) in the Canadian Delegation NATO in Brussels where he was responsible for the Canadian participation in the NATO Infrastructure Program and the NATO civil and military budget programs. He retired from this NATO appointment in 1990 and returned to Kingston.
At Don’s request cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. His ashes will be placed in the Gray family plot in the Cataraqui Cemetery in a private ceremony. Condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home
