Obituary of Joan Maurisse Gray

Joan Maurisse Gray (née Fitzpatrick) of Elmira, NY, passed away peacefully from natural causes at home on September 12, 2024. Beloved mother and grandmother, preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Dr. James Graham Gray (Jim).

Joan was born and grew up in New York City. She was the youngest of the five daughters of Francis Joseph and Honore Taylor Fitzpatrick, both immigrants to the US from Ireland.

Throughout her youth Joan studied dancing, singing, acting, piano and violin and had a keen interest in writing poetry. A graduate of Dominican Academy, she went on to obtain a B.A. in Journalism from Hunter College. She was a member of the Catholic Actors Guild and preformed various roles in Hunter College playhouse productions, off Broadway shows and in the “Hands of Mystery” Dumont TV show. After college she worked at House Beautiful Magazine and later pursued a singing career performing in nightclubs throughout the greater New York area.

Joan and Jim met at a Christmas party in NYC in 1952. Joan was singing “Oh Holy Night" and Jim was playing the piano. They married in 1953 and took up residence in Buffalo, NY where Jim was finishing his surgical residency. In 1957 they moved to Elmira to establish his medical practice and raise their growing family.

Throughout her life Joan was active in the community. Elmira Little Theatre, Elmira Children’s Theatre, Junior League, and the Red Cross Blood Banking Network are just a few of the organizations to which she lent her time and talent. She was a devout Catholic and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Elcor Nursing Home and Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital for many years. She was politically active and served as the chairwoman of the Democratic Party in the Town of Elmira. In 1976 Joan was elected to be a delegate from New York State for Jimmy Carter and attended the Democratic National Convention in NYC. In the early 70’s she had a local cable tv show, “Involvement with Joan Gray”, a half hour show that highlighted important institutions in Chemung County. 

Joan is survived by her daughter Maurisse Gray with husband Salim Valimahomed, her son J. Graham Gray, Jr. with wife Mary E. Gray, her daughter Bonnie Lindquist with husband David Lindquist and her daughter, Cecelia D. Basilotto with husband James Basilotto. She has eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Friends are invited to attend visiting hours at McInerny Funeral Home, 502 West Water Street, Elmira, N.Y on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Joan’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, 2:00 p.m., St. Patrick’s Church, 604 Park Place, Elmira.  Interment, with committal prayers, will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to CareFirst, 3805 Meads Creek Road, Painted Post, NY 14870. www.CareFirstNY.org.