Gregory Lawrence Kelly Obituary

Gregory Lawrence Kelly
1953 to 2026

Truly at peace and surrounded by love and music, Greg Kelly’s time with us came to an end on April 7th, 2026 at age 73. Greg was loved so dearly, and beyond measure, by so many people. Carrying him forward in their hearts forever are his daughter Tara (“his hero” as he always said); the love of his life, his beloved wife Christina; his first love and dear friend for over 50 years, Nancy; his dearest friends Roger, Michaela and Don; Dana, who he took in as his own daughter; and his loyal and comical pugs, Homer and Jethro. Greg found a new and boundless level of love and pride with his grandchildren - Julia, Declan, Adysen and Mason, and deeply loved and respected his sons-in-law, Kurtis and Tim.

Greg was born in Ottawa in 1953 to parents Veda and Lawrence (Lorne) Kelly, and grew up in Carleton Heights with his siblings Karen, Kathy and Jim. He was a loving uncle to his 13 nieces and nephews.

Music was at the heart of everything Greg did. He started playing guitar and writing songs at age 14. In high school, he was part of Mapleridge, a 14-piece band that travelled across the country performing a rock opera that Greg helped write. In 1975, he bought his Gibson J-50 and began playing at open stages and pubs. He hosted a radio show on CKCU FM to share his love of music with others. While he played music throughout his life, his musical era really took shape in 2000, after he went into recovery. He started on the very small stage at Rasputin’s, and quickly became a fixture at open stages and cafes across the region. At this time, he joined Writer’s Bloc, a monthly meeting of songwriters, where he honed his craft and began mentoring others. While Greg was known for his beautiful tenor voice and heartfelt lyrics, he was especially beloved for his role as a mentor, with many musicians crediting Greg for getting their first gig.

Greg created a listening space for countless musicians over the years through his weekly Saturday music series, Tunes After Noon, which ran for 14 years. He was actively involved in local music events such as Chrysalis, Song-Along and the Ottawa Grass Roots Festival, and was a huge supporter of local radio. Greg was writing songs up until his final days, including some lyrics about grief and love.

When not playing music, Greg loved to go birding, a hobby he and Nancy started in the late 80s-early 90s, visiting places like Mer Bleu, Mud Lake, and two trips to Point Pelee. He would often participate in annual bird counts, including as a driver covering 1, 100 km in 24 hours. In later years, Greg found so much joy in the Monday Morning Birders group. He could identify and mimic birdsong with incredible precision. He was an animal lover and had a very unique and gentle relationship with any animal he encountered.

Greg and Christina’s hearts collided over music, and they continued to make beautiful music together for 14 years. They travelled to England twice (Greg’s only times overseas) and spent time on Prince Edward Island on a few occasions, where he felt truly at peace. While their time together will never be long enough, Greg and Christina built a loving and supportive community that will continue because of their love.

Greg was granted the serenity to accept the things he couldn’t change, the courage to change the things he could, and the wisdom to know the difference. Through his recovery, he became a support and inspiration for so many walking that same path. His friends shared that, when he joined the program in 2000, he never looked back, taking one step forward every day, and quickly gained a reputation for being “the best listener in the room.” He will be remembered for the quiet yet profound presence he brought to Alcoholics Anonymous. He had a remarkable ability to make newcomers feel genuinely welcome, offering kindness and understanding at moments when it was needed most. His care for others was sincere and deeply felt, reflected in the way he listened, supported, and connected. Through his honesty and emotional openness, he created space for others to share their own struggles without fear or judgment. With a gentle spirit and a warm sense of humour, he often brought lightness into difficult moments, helping others feel at ease and reminding them that even in hardship, there could still be laughter. His humility and compassion fostered a deep sense of comfort and trust, helping many feel less alone in their journey.

Greg was an avid reader with an excellent sense of dry humour. He was a fan of crosswords and Wordle, sharing his scores daily with his daughter (who could never beat him) and granddaughter (who always beat him). He appreciated food from all over the world and all across the Scoville scale, but never strayed too far from Kraft Dinner, chocolate bars, bologna and two hot dogs from the hockey rink where he would watch his grandkids play.

Greg loved baseball, whether it was his grandson Declan’s house-league games, his beer-league team the Odd Sox, his trip with Tara, Julia and Declan to see the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, or his trips to see his beloved Montreal Expos on opening day, who will one day come back to Montreal.

A thrill of Greg’s lifetime was taking a musical road trip with Tara to Nashville and Memphis, including a stop at John Prine Memorial Park in Rochester, Kentucky.

As Greg would say, it’s been a dandy-fine life indeed.

It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a village to walk one home. We are so grateful for the support of the village that helped shepherd him home: the “Army of Love” led by Margot and Chantal; the meals and errands, the visits and music, the hugs and dog walks. Special thanks to Mark and Heather; Pat, Mary-Ellen, Kate, Bonnie, Sandi, Peter, Anne; Barb, Dave and the Monday Morning Birders, and Mel from Gabriel’s. We are especially grateful for the support from our medical team through Greg’s final weeks, including Drs. Malouf, Daoud and Lotimer, and Nurse Stephanie from the Ottawa South Palliative team, nurse Ben from Bayshore Healthcare, PSWs George, Sumit and Noor and doula Heather.

In honour of Greg, appreciate the beauty around you, support live music, raise a club soda, and be kind to each other.

A memorial service commemorating Greg's life and carrying him forward to the next stage will be held on Thursday, April 16th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm, followed by a reception from 3:00 to 5:00. Both the service and reception will take place at First Unitarian at 30 Cleary Ave., Ottawa. The service will also be available live at: https://youtube.com

The family welcomes flowers as a way to honour Greg. Donations may be made in his honour to CKCU FM or Fletcher Wildlife Garden via the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club.