Obituary of Donald Fry
Donald Murray Fry passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 18, 2026, with family by his side. He was 91 years old. Although he lived with Alzheimer’s disease in his later years, his faith, likeability, humour, and gentle spirit sustained him to the end.
Don was the beloved husband of the late Elizabeth Fay Fry (nee Cushing). He was the dear father of Sandra Collins (Glo Kelly), Janis Fry (Jerry Laplante), and Tracy McPhail (Lex). He was the proud Grampy of Tyler Fry (Lindsay) and Alexis Fry (Brett Robertson), and the doting Great-Grampy of AceTrolly, and Wesley and Emma Fry. He will be fondly remembered by his family, both those close by and those further away. He was grateful in recent years for the care and companionship of immediate family and of his niece Mona Rouffer.
Born and raised in Hartney, Manitoba, Don was the son of the late James Arthur (Art) and Marjorie Fry (nee McLeish), and was predeceased by his brother, Lawrence (Larry) Fry.
After graduating from high school and completing his engineering degree at the University of Manitoba, Don moved to Ottawa to begin a distinguished professional engineering career. He worked for the Department of National Defence and later Canada Post, where he was involved in developing and sustaining secure communications systems against foreign and nuclear threats.
In his early years in Ottawa, he met his wonderful wife, Betty, at a Friday night dance. The couple stayed in Ottawa to raise their three girls. Don was a quiet, strong, and reliable presence in his daughters' lives, and later, a fun-loving grandfather and great-grandfather. He shared with them his love of sports by coaching softball, encouraging swim and tennis lessons, fixing their bikes, and later taking them downhill skiing almost every Saturday in the winter months.
When he wasn’t focused on work and family, Don spent countless hours in service to his community, including volunteering at Medex. Don and Betty were active members of several church communities over the years, beginning with Cityview United, then Bethany Baptist, and most recently, Bethel Pentecostal Church. They were an integral part of church life, always reaching out to others near and far to share their beliefs and to commitment to good works.
Don was an avid golfer and curler, and he played countless rounds of bridge. He famously hated gardening, unlike his brother Larry, who maintained an enviable garden, but he was a fantastic cook. He specialized in Saturday morning raspberry pancakes and Christmas Eve gourmet pizza. Don’s door was always open, and he welcomed anyone, especially those in need, into his home.
Most recently, Don enjoyed family time and the company of the residents and amazing staff on the memory care floor at Bridlewood Trails Retirement Residence. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Christina March for her exceptional companion care, which Sandra and Tracy were fortunate to find with the support of Seniors on Site.
Although shy and introverted by nature, Don enriched the lives of everyone around him with his willingness to be silly, goofy, and always loving, frequently going along with Betty’s plans to bring fun to every event. He will be dearly missed.
Celebrate Don’s Life in Pictures and Sound We invite you to view a special tribute to Don by following this link: Memorial Slideshow - In Loving Memory of Don Fry.
Please note: The presentation includes embedded video and audio clips, so it may take a moment to load fully. For the best viewing experience, we recommend using a computer or laptop with Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
Memorial & Donations
Everyone is warmly encouraged to celebrate Don’s life in a way that feels personal to them. You are invited to share a memory or express condolences to the family on the [Tribute Wall]. A small family inurnment will take place at a later date at St. Peter’s Anglican Cemetery in Newboyne.
In Lieu of Flowers
In memory of Don, those wishing to make a charitable contribution are invited to consider: The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County
How to donate: Select In Memoriam Donations, check the box for “This gift is in memory of someone,” and enter Don Fry.
A special note from the family: We are coordinating with the Dementia Society to direct memorial contributions toward specialized memory care programs, similar to the wonderful program Don benefited from at Bridlewood Trails. Ensuring your donation is linked to Don’s name will help us pool these funds for this specific purpose.
