IRISH, George

George Irish 

October 3, 1963 - September 7, 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of George Irish. George suffered a heart attack while mountain biking. He left us far, far too early, and we deeply wish that this hadn’t happened. But we take comfort from knowing how happy he was, as he was out in nature on a beautiful day, doing what he liked, and, most importantly, enjoying it with our daughter Fenna who was the greatest joy of his life.

George was so many things, and even those who had known him for many years would occasionally be surprised as he revealed another layer of his multi-faceted interests. (“George the Swiftie?”) He was smart and engaged. After over 20 years working at Amnesty International, he reinvented his professional self last year working to demystify AI and making it work for the nonprofit sector. He was observant and modest and preferred to listen rather than state his opinions, but when he would, it was usually profound. (We would often realize however, that when he seemed to be pondering deep thoughts, he was actually playing Polytopia).

He was a technology geek (“I programmed things so that when we say ‘google, it’s coffee time’, it automatically plays the fireplace channel on the TV and turns on the Christmas tree lights!”). He was a passionate D&D player for over 40 years with the same group of friends from high school, and he was endlessly curious and interested in so many things (“I just finished the 500-episode history podcast about the Byzantium”). He loved smelly foods (“Mmmm, Kimchi Sauerkraut”) and enjoyed taunting friends on social media with endless pictures of ‘Kaffee and Kuchen’ during annual visits to Germany.

Most of all, he was kind. He was considerate, caring, and endlessly patient. He was the best imaginable life partner and most incredible dad, brother, cousin, uncle, friend, neighbour, and colleague. George, we love you so much. And while we are immensely sad, we are so grateful for the time that we had together, and for all the shared adventures and happy memories that will stay with us.

Write your sympathies or tribute

Name of the person to whom you wish to offer your message of sympathy or tribute

Message of sympathy or tribute

Personalized message

May God give you the strength and the courage to overcome these difficult times. May this message bring you the testimony of a profound and sincere sympathy. To help you forget these sad hours, may our thoughts bring you comfort and serenity. Although flowers wither, die and disappear, their precious perfume remains. Like these bright flowers, those we love never die, they remain with us forever imprinted in our memories. There are no words to express how much we are devastated by the loss you live. We just hope that our sympathy will bring you some relief.

Your name

Your email

• Learn more Through the Heritage program, we aim to bequeath a healthier environment by planting trees. See more
• 
• A tree is planted in memory of the deceased
• 16 $ ^{+ tx}
  More information
• Select

Do you allow your message to be published ? Yes No

Please check to confirm that you are not a robot.

This procedure is to prevent spam emails.

Send your message

The messages are not published bellow, but will be sent to the family.

×

­
	Price	Qty
­­Don­	­10$	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Subtotal	­10$
			GST	0.50$
			QST	1.00$
			Total	11.50$
GST(126040880) QST(1002503987TQ0001)

Name of the person to whom you wish to send your message of sympathy

You must indicate the recipient of your sympathy.

Your message

You must enter a message of sympathy.

Your name

You must enter your name.

Your email

You must enter your email.

Credit card

Submit payment

13 messages received

George

Goodbye to my wonderful baby brother ... kind, thoughtful, witty, caring, always optimistic. Your smile will stay with your friends and family for the rest of our lives.

Maureen, September 16, 2025

George

I want to believe, that you are not gone, maybe you have a good chat with Richard "up there" and at the same time you care for Anette and Fenna and all your loved ones.

Lisa, September 20, 2025

Anette and Fenna

The feeling of surrealism continues, the sharp shock. I'm so grateful to have shared so many fun nature/culinary/ musical/neighborhood adventures with you over the years, since they apparently have a due date. George, you are just essential. Because of that, I will limp along a bit, but be sure to bike, swim, bake, read, bbq, laugh, discuss, garden, ponder and convene just as you so enjoyed. You will be thought of so often, and I'm so grateful for your generous friendship over all these years: treasured.

Heather, September 20, 2025

Family & Friends

I met George only a few month ago as part of his new AI work for not-for-profits. We had a follow up Zoom call and he was so generous with is insights and offers of assistance. We were to speak again in the new year.

My condolences to the family and friends who have lost such a dear soul>
My you know peace and comfort as you cherish his memory.

~Gordon

Gordon, September 22, 2025

Annete, Fenna and the Irish and Hanson Families

My heart is breaking for you. I wish you courage and patience as you begin to put one foot in front of the other in a world without him.
Janet

Jan Pepper, September 23, 2025

Anette and Fenna

I had the great pleasure of working with George at Amnesty when I first moved to Canada in 2012. George was always a warm and friendly presence. I'm deeply sorry for your loss.

- Greg.

Greg Clarke, September 25, 2025

Anette and Fenna

I never expected to be writing this, I always assumed George would one day be writing this about me. That he left us so early is tragic and at some levels still unbelievable. I still see things and I think I should ask George about that next time I talk to him. Which I never will. But do not dwell on what is lost, remember the wonderful times we had with him, his great adventures, camping trips, Thanksgivings and Christmases, visiting Port Dover or just hanging out at Union Station, which was the last time I saw him. A rich life well lived. Good bye little brother wish you were still here but it was a joy while you were.

Gord Irish, September 27, 2025

Anette and Fenna

George was a fabulous brother-in-law.
He was always great at helping out, whether it was a computer or phone issue, which country skis to buy or around the kitchen at the holidays.
He was adventurous. He loved to travel, and experience new things. How I wish I were a fly on the wall when he was on the barge with Anette’s father and his friends. I loved the ‘Kaffee and Kuchen’ pictures he posted while visiting Anette’s family in Germany. I will think of him fondly every time I frequent a café in his neighbourhood and I smile when I recall all those Christmas Eves putting Santa’s gift for Fenna together.
He was patient, an avid outdoors person, environmentally conscious, smart, articulate, unjudgmental and grateful for his soulmate Anette and their daughter Fenna.
He was also the fun and crazy uncle to my own kids. I have pictures of him doing yoga and balancing acts I would never in my life attempt.
How George lived his life with his unwavering principles and kindness should be an example to us all. He was an incredible human being.
My heart goes out to Anette and Fenna who lost a loving partner and father. We will miss him so much.

Gloria, September 27, 2025

Fenna and Anette

Over the years George and I shared many smiles and short conversations. I always had the feeling that I was talking to a wonderful person, and I wished I had the chance to get to know him better. One thing is clear, he was a very fortunate man in his life and his family. I'm sorry for your loss.

Robert Walsh, September 29, 2025

Anette and Fenna

I was shocked and saddened to get the news of George’s sudden and tragic passing. It still doesn’t seem real. Holidays won’t be the same without him there. He was always the fun uncle, joining in with the kids’ games and family Christmas carols. We’ll miss him dearly. I’m grateful that he brought Anette into our family, and that they both gave us our wonderful cousin, Fenna.

Anette and Fenna, I am so sorry for your loss.

Samantha, October 2, 2025

Anette & Fenna

Feeling very fortunate for having had the opportunity to get to know our dear friend George. Grateful that somehow, we wound up on the same block on the same street so many years ago. Grateful for all the “Google, it’s coffee time”s we've had together, where George shared an interest in all things Byzantine with Derek, and where he would listen to my ramblings and reply with concise insight.

Grateful for the myriad hikes when I was way out behind everyone else, where he quietly came to walk alongside me, keeping me company and accepting my pace. Grateful for the many backcountry canoe trips (mostly in Algonquin, but Temagami and Killarney too) where he showed his strength of character when things got muddy, cold, torrentially rainy, lightning-y, and otherwise Canadian weather-y, and where he took most of the photos. Grateful for his skills at setting up a tarp out in the woods (and at our street parties). Grateful for the laughs during those trips, the memories of the wasp nest, the shoes!, the underwear, the island visitors, the yarr, the kids ahoy!, and so grateful that we finally saw a (very big!) moose on our last trip together this year.

Grateful for the many hours of board games played together, the Dixit, the Code Names, the Kids on Bikes, among others. Grateful for trips skating on the canal and at the cottage, snowshoeing in the park, visiting Montreal & Toronto, hiking in New York State, working on crosswords, sharing his learnings about the non-profit sector and AI, canoeing the Rideau/Ottawa/Canal trips, having so much fun at the Canadian Ski Marathons, sharing in delicious food, and seeing his constant dedication to his beloved Fenna and Anette.

Really missing our dear friend.

Michaela, October 2, 2025

Anette and Fenna

Uncle George was truly one-of-a-kind. We will never forget all the fun times we spent together and the laughs we shared. He was such a joy to be around - always optimistic, patient, and engaging, with an awesome sense of humour. He could make us laugh until tears were rolling down our faces. There was never a dull moment when he was around. He was also one of the most calm and collected people I have ever known, and he had a way of turning any negative situation into something positive. He had a good heart, and dedicated his career to improving the lives of people. He was kind, thoughtful, and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. Above all, he was the best life partner to Anette and the best father to Fenna.

He was always willing have fun with us as children. At family gatherings, we loved to do crazy yoga poses with him, as well as hear him play his fiddle while Maureen played the piano. I will always remember our wildly competitive and chaotic card and board games with Anette and Fenna. He was a good sport - always making excuses for me when I couldn't beat Fenna at Dutch Blitz. We also enjoyed playing with his VR goggles while trying to avoid running into furniture. He was the creator of the "shocking O-face selfie" which has now become a family tradition. Last but not least, whenever I eat cold pizza, I am reminded of the story of him eating cold pizza from under his bed back in the day.

These are just a few of the many wonderful moments and memories we shared. My heart goes out to Anette and Fenna for such a loss. I wish you both comfort and peace.  He was truly an amazing person, and I know the time spent with him will be cherished forever.

To George, thank you for all the great memories and joy you spread during your life. I still find it hard to accept that you are no longer with us, but I am so grateful for the time we had together, especially our last hike at Gatineau Park. May your smile be remembered forever and may we all meet again.

Laura, October 3, 2025

Anette and Fenna

Uncle George was one of the kindest, most optimistic and funniest people I know. He dedicated his life to helping everyone around him and he is truly an inspiration to all of us.

I will never forget all of the Holidays and family gatherings we shared. They will not be the same without him. I am grateful for those Christmas Eves spent assembling presents for Fenna, especially the doll house. He brought such a warm presence everywhere he went. I will always remember the story of Uncle George eating cold pizza from under his bed.

Uncle George will always be the fun, energetic uncle. He would join in on whatever game we were playing and he was so patient when teaching us new board games such as Carcassonne. I will cherish all the memories of playing Dutch Blitz especially when it got really competitive.

Anette and Fenna, I am so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in the fact that he touched so many lives in such a short amount of time.

Christopher, October 5, 2025