Gary John Bishop, 69, of Lowell, passed away on Wednesday, 15 July, 2026, at Lowell General Hospital, surrounded by family.

Gary was born on 11 July, 1957, in Brixton, London, England to John and Eileen (Palmer) Bishop, and grew up in Orpington, Kent. He earned a BSc in Applied Physics from the University of Hull, an MSc in Lasers and their Applications from the University of Essex, then returned to Hull for his PhD in Applied Physics, developing and characterising a compact, high-pulse-repetition-frequency XeCl excimer laser, the first of its kind in the world. Proudly left-handed, and remarkably ambidextrous in racquet sports, he played on the varsity badminton teams at both universities, and occasionally switched to his right hand mid-match just to give opponents a fighting chance. He also turned out for departmental cricket matches during his years at Hull.

Gary built an entrepreneurial career across the laser, optics, and photonics industries, working with organisations spanning defense, life sciences, medical devices, and semiconductors. In 1986, he moved to Canada to join Lumonics, a laser research and manufacturing company in Kanata, near Ottawa, Ontario, where he helped develop its excimer laser product line. After a spell in the software industry, he joined the Information Technology Research Centre (ITRC), fostering research links between industry and Ontario's universities and helping commercialise university-based intellectual property. While there, he co-founded Jambalaya Technologies with a Lumonics colleague, going on to run it from 1997 to 2007. He later relocated to the USA, taking on a series of senior roles: CEO of LINOS Photonics, COO of Qioptiq LINOS, General Manager of Excelitas Technologies' Rochester Division, senior positions at Dynasil Corporation, Vice President of Business Development at Optikos Corporation, and, most recently, President of Sheaumann Laser Inc. in Billerica, returning in his final role to the laser industry where he'd started. Somehow, he still found time to spend over a decade as a Business Mentor with CENE, the Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England. 

Among the many products he brought to market, he took particular pride in leading development of an award-winning software program that helped people with learning disabilities learn to read. Those who worked alongside him knew him as a turnaround specialist, equally in the boardroom and on the shop floor.

Away from the office, Gary loved life on two wheels, regularly cycling 35 miles or more and chasing his own records, and everyone else's, on Strava. He was a devoted Tottenham Hotspur football supporter, a Formula 1 fan, and never tired of watching Top Gun. More recently, he'd swapped his old school recorder for a rather smart acoustic guitar, determined to finally learn to play. Above all, he was a devoted father: he loved tackling STEM projects with his son, Liam, and coached youth soccer for his daughter, Erin.

Gary is survived by his son, Liam Bishop of Newington, CT; his daughter, Erin, and her husband, Dan Larrivee, of Whitinsville, MA; his brother, Andrew Bishop, his wife, Annie, and his niece, Eloise Bishop, of England; and his beloved grandson, Rhys. In a final act of generosity, Gary was an organ donor.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial calling hour at Carr Funeral Home, 24 Hill St., Whitinsville, Massachusetts Friday, August 7, at 2:30-3:30PM.  A time of celebration of Gary's life and sharing a favourite memories or a laugh or two will begin at 3:30. Per Gary's wishes please leave the black at home. Come dressed in colour.

 

Donations in his memory may be made to the Barrow Neurological Foundation’s Stroke Program.  

Stroke Program - Barrow Neurological Foundation