Elizabeth Gray

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth Anne Gray on the morning of August 28, 2022, with her family by her side after a private battle with cancer.

Elizabeth was born in Santa Barbara, California, on March 16, 1957, to Joseph and Katherine LeBlanc. After moving from California, she and her family lived in Short Hills, New Jersey before finally settling in Kansas City, Missouri. Elizabeth always cherished her time growing up there with brothers Bill and Jim where she attended The Barstow School graduating in 1975 as Class President. Elizabeth then moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU) where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1979. It was also at SMU that she met the love of her life and future husband of 42 years, Rob Gray, who she married after he graduated in 1980.

At SMU, Elizabeth also joined the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Delta Gamma Fraternity where she served in multiple leadership positions culminating in her being elected President of the Chapter during her senior year.

Elizabeth then began her lengthy teaching career at the Mary Immaculate School in Dallas, Texas. Moving to Toronto in 1981 following her marriage to Rob, she worked at Havergal College teaching various grades in the Lower School from 1982 to 1989. After her sons Stephen (1989) and Michael (1992) were born, Elizabeth chose to spend the remainder of her teaching career at The Sterling Hall School (SHS) where she took on a variety of teaching and leadership roles, most recently in the critical position of Director of Graduate Placement and Alumni Relations. When she wasn’t teaching grade 8 English, she was often guiding a leadership team, managing Student Council, supporting the Grade 8 Mentorship program, prepping students for SSAT exams, or coaching soccer, basketball and softball teams to many championship banners for SHS.

A big sports fan, Elizabeth closely followed the Blue Jays, Raptors, Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas Jayhawks (the University where her sons earned their degrees) and was ecstatic and thrilled by the recent championships won by three of her teams. Elizabeth also loved her school break trips to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which frequently resulted in multiple branches of both the Gray and LeBlanc families getting together on the beach, going to happy hour, betting on donkey piñata races and attending large family dinners.

When she wasn't teaching, taking care of her boys, watching sports and making regular trips back to Kansas City to see her parents and friends, she found time to serve her community by joining the Junior League of Toronto where she again rose to leadership positions including President. She also continued her involvement with her Fraternity helping set up a new Delta Gamma chapter at the University of Waterloo.

Elizabeth’s massive impact was felt on everyone she met. She was a woman of immense kindness and selflessness. Her thoughtfulness, compassion, strength, resilience, courage, loyalty, and intelligence were only a few of the traits that made her the amazing person she was. Elizabeth treated everyone with such enormous love and respect and always put others’ happiness and well-being first. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband of 42 years, Rob; her devoted children Stephen and Michael (Carly); her mother Katherine LeBlanc; her brothers Bill (Charyl) LeBlanc and Jim LeBlanc and a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews spread out across North America.

Special recognition is given to her brother-in-law, Bill Gray, who donated part of his liver to Elizabeth in 2005 and her sister-in-law, Dr. Kathy Gray, who donated Elizabeth a kidney in 2008. Without their love, sacrifice and generosity all those years ago, Elizabeth’s own impact on her family and community would not have been possible since then.

The Gray family also extends its thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Transplant Unit at the Toronto General Hospital for the wonderful care they provided Elizabeth all the way from her first transplant to her last day.

A celebration of Elizabeth's life will be held at SHS on October 6, 2022. A private family interment will also be held.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Sterling Hall School (https://www.netdirectories.com/~shs/olg1.cgi) or to the PKD Foundation of Canada at 3-1750 the Queensway, Suite 158, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 5H5 (Donate - PKD Foundation of Canada.