Gary Lansing Orelup, most recently of Fairfield, Connecticut and formerly of Katonah, New York and New Canaan, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026, with family at his side at St. Vincent’s Medical Center after a brief illness.
Gary Orelup
Gary was born on June 21, 1948, as the first son of Milton and Lillian Orelup. He spent his childhood in Easton, Connecticut with his brothers Grant and Jack. He graduated from Joel Barlow High School and then went on to attend Cornell University in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He graduated from Cornell with a degree in Architecture in 1970. While at Cornell, he was a brother in the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. After graduation, he married his first wife Linda, and they initially lived in Massachusetts. His son, Christopher, was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1976.
After a brief stint in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, Gary and his family settled in New Canaan, Connecticut in the late 1970s, remaining there through the mid-2000s. He had a successful career as an architect, working on numerous commercial and residential projects throughout the Fairfield County region. While in New Canaan, his son Christopher graduated from New Canaan High School and followed in Gary’s footsteps by attending Cornell University. Gary and Linda eventually divorced.
Gary married his second wife Evonne in 2012, and relocated to Katonah, NY. There, he continued to work a reduced schedule as an architect, while also dedicating more time to photography, which had always been a lifelong interest. He welcomed Evonne’s daughter Esme and her family into his heart and loved them as his own, and he provided steadfast love and support to Evonne during her battle with progressive multiple sclerosis.
After Evonne’s passing in 2014, he met and married his third and final wife Susan. After Susan’s death in 2024, Gary continued to live in Katonah with his beloved dog Millie. Eventually however, his declining memory necessitated a transition to assisted living, so in late 2025 Gary moved to Fairfield, Connecticut to be closer to his son Christopher and brother Grant. He was thriving in assisted living at Sunrise of Fairfield, until he suffered a sudden stroke several days before his passing.
Gary is survived by his brothers Jack (Windhu) Orelup and Grant (Celia) Orelup, his son Christopher (Liz) Orelup, grandson Timothy Orelup, step-daughter Esme (Devon) Watanabe, and step-grandchildren Ada and Odin.
Gary is pre-deceased by his wives Linda, Evonne, and Susan, to each of whom he was a dedicated, loving, and selfless husband.
Gary’s rememberance will be at Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan, CT on Saturday, October 3rd at 2pm. All are welcome. Interment of his ashes will be in a private family ceremony at a later date.