Musician, environmentalist, loving husband and father, son and brother, uncle and friend, Gregory Furlong died February 2, 2022, age 62, after a short illness.
Greg shared his joy in music all his life. Inspired by his mother, who filled their house with art, music and poetry, and his father, who played clarinet and saxophone, Greg started playing trombone and piano as a teenager and went on to study music at the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Music with a specialty in composition, 1989) and the Royal Conservatory of Music. His commissions included several arrangements for the Etobicoke College Institute that were performed on tour in South America in the early 1990s; he also wrote a Euphonium Quintet that premiered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2000.
Greg cofounded and wrote arrangements for the Toronto Trombone Ensemble, was a cofounder and musical director of Song Cycles (The Choir on Bikes), and was a section lead at Trinity St. Paul’s United Church on Bloor Street and for other Toronto-area church choirs. Greg returned to Ottawa in the early 2000s, where he co-founded and was the musical director of the choir Just Voices; he also played trombone and tuba with and wrote arrangements for local groups. Over the years, Greg played with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Kanata Symphony Orchestra, the Ottawa Community Concert Band and the Polished Brass Quintet, among others. He also spent many Sunday afternoons playing the piano and singing old favourites with his mother, Audrey, and other residents of Unitarian House.
Guided by an early awareness of the threats to the living world, Greg was a life-long environmentalist. He was one of the founders of the worker co-op Bikes on Wheels in Toronto’s Kensington Market, and also trained bike mechanics in Cuba as part of the project Bicicletas Cruzando Fronteras (Bicycles Crossing Borders). He worked for more than two decades on making homes more energy efficient, first with GreenSaver in Toronto and then for many years as the technical lead with Envirocentre in Ottawa. Greg graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Ottawa in 1981.
Greg leaves behind his wife Michelle and daughter Vela, his mother Audrey (née Duggan), siblings Sheila, Pat (Laurie), Deirdre (Dan), Mark and Claire, many nieces and nephews, and many other dear relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his father, John Furlong.
There will be a private burial service this winter and a celebration of Greg’s life in the spring.
Donations may be made in Greg’s honour to Orkidstra (orkidstra.ca/donate/).
Digital Guestbook
Kevin Thompson
Tom Allen
I have only kind memories of Greg. He was a warm soul.
Rodney Norman
I wish to express my sincerest condolences. Greg was so gifted, generous and friendly.
Jehanbakhsh Jasavala
Condolences to the family and friends. Shared some time and a few stages with Greg as part of the Orchestral Training Program at RCM. A great player and person. Held his beliefs with passion and acted upon them. Truly a loss.
Alayne McGregor
Greg was a committed bike activist and a fine musician. We also knew him through the useful energy audit he did of our house. I'm very sorry to see him gone so young.
Bill Way
I was shocked and very saddened to learn of Greg’s passing. I had the pleasure of being a part of the Toronto Trombone Ensemble and performing with Greg for a few years. What great memories! His arrangements for our group were first class and so cleverly written. He would program our concerts and always have new compositions available for us to add variety to our repertoire. I never had the pleasure of meeting his family but please accept my condolences on your loss.
Gregory Farrugia
I remember Greg as a kind and caring person with a smile that was infectious. Nothing but good memories while we attended U of T. Rest in Peace old friend.
Winnifred Leblanc
What an amazing brother, man, friend and individual. So many talents and gifts he shared everywhere.... so very sorry Deirdre and family for your loss of Greg.
Chris Delben
I worked with Greg for quite a few years, he was a great friend and a great mentor. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for him, you will surely be missed my friend.
Jonathan Ham
So sorry to hear that Greg has moved on. I worked with him doing energy audits in Ottawa for many years and will always remember him for his contributions to our industry.
Greg and I were both music students at the University of Toronto in 1986, when we met. We became housemates, and life-long friends. He was creative, intelligent, and passionate and always had something wise and funny to contribute to any conversation. I still often find myself thinking of things he said years ago (usually in passing) that helped me to see a subject in a new and deeper light. His passion for so many things (like music, the arts, environmentalism, and cycling) had a positive influence on many people, myself included. I will always remember and treasure him.