Eleanor Gray Memorial Scholarship in Music

My sisters and I established music scholarship endowments at UVIC and UBC in loving memory of my amazing and talented mother, Eleanor Elizabeth Gray. UVIC, because my mother lived in Victoria since 1933 until she moved to Vancouver to be closer to family about 15 years before she died in 2001. UBC, because I lived in Vancouver from the age of 21, and obtained several degrees, including my law degree there.

My mother was born in Stratford, Ontario in 1900. She is buried in the beautiful and historic Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria. Just in case you would like to drop by and say hello. Plot- Blk P. Plot 107 E&F. For the first 35 years of her life in Victoria, she lived in the historic heritage home located at 1745 Rockland Avenue, Victoria.

My mother was my lifelong best and loyal friend, provided unconditional love, support, encouragement, and affirmation, and was a constant source of optimism and positivity through her 101 years of an amazing, full, and productive life. She was a perfect role model of a full and meaningful life well lived.

Her joy of life, keen intellect, inquiring mind, positive and encouraging attitude, and infectious enthusiasm made her a warm and loyal friend to all who knew her.

Her love of music and joy that she experienced and shared with others from the age of 6, permeated and animated her whole life. She played the piano and sang. She graduated from the University of Toronto with 2 degrees in 1926 - one of which was in Music. She met my father who was in medical school at the University of Toronto. She played the piano for the medical school glee club he was in. They later married and moved to Victoria, B.C. to set up a medical practice and raise a family.

Music was always in the air during our upbringing. This instilled the love of music in her 5 children throughout our early years and throughout our lives. We all spent 7 years learning piano and musical theory at our home through the Royal Conservancy of Music program. We had a concert grand piano in the living room, and an upright grand piano in the upstairs den. My 4 sisters each took turns practicing piano for an hour each evening. I was 12 years younger, so had the pianos all to myself.

We used to frequently invite students from local piano groups for recitals at our home. My mother would support local piano groups with financial awards. She was totally engaged in her love and support for music in all its forms.

In her later years in a private independent living retirement residence in White Rock, B.C., my mother joined the choir. She also accompanied the choir on the piano.

She also established a "musical appreciation evening" in the retirement home den 2 times a week after dinner. This involved selecting different classic music each evening on the record player, and giving a musical background explanation before the music was played. The den was always at capacity with fellow music lovers.

My mother was a bright, engaging, and proactive force of nature. Kind, thoughtful, caring, and supportive. She loved people and people loved her back. My mother continued expressing her love of music until the end of her life at the age of 101. She died from the effects of a sudden stroke she had 6 weeks beforehand.

The music endowments are designed for music students who demonstrate talent, skill, and dedication, and exhibit musical excellence. Traits and leadership by example, which my mother demonstrated throughout her long life. The scholarships are for students with a music specialty and proven talent in the areas of piano, voice, or strings.

I know from meeting many music students who were scholarship recipients at UBC and UVIC over many years, as well as receiving poignant letters from the students on the impacts of the award, what a positive difference receiving the scholarship made in the lives of the deserving students.

The endowments are a living permanent legacy to the loving memory of my mother, and the profound positive impact she had on my life and the life of others. The perfect role model of character, integrity, moral clarity, and irrepressible joy of life and of music in her life. Joy which she shared throughout her life with all those who touched her life. The endowments closely align with my personal values in life, of making one’s brief time in life make a difference in ways that matter in life.

Photo of Eleanor Gray at 91 years of age. She was born in Stratford, Ontario on April 4, 1900 and died in White Rock, B.C. on April 24, 2001 at the age of 101. 

Bio written by Douglas Gray, B.A., LL.B.