Giuliano Pirani

Giuliano Pirani

1959-2026

“Pira" Giuliano Pirani died peacefully on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Maycourt Hospice surrounded by his close family in Ottawa, Canada, with love sent from 'The Italians' in Le Marche e Abano Terme, Italy.

Pira, your creativity, your art, your imagination, and your kindness will always remain with us. / Grazie alla famiglia Pirani per : "Il tuo estro, la tua arte, la tua fantasia, la tua bontà, resteranno sempre con noi."

You made us better people and inspired us as artists.**

'Pira' Giuliano Pirani was born on January 9, 1959 in Senigallia, Le Marche, Italy, to Igino Pirani and Annunziata Balducci, little brother to Olando Pirani (Ida Cho) and Marinella Pirani (Armando Bizzarri).

With Karen Joan Watson, Pira had two beautiful daughters he loved the most: "Katy" Kathleen Marinella Wendy Pirani-Watson (Chris Hyndman) and Micaela Giovanna Julia Pirani-Watson.

All his life, Pira lived as an artist and skilled arts worker.

In Italy, Pira roamed from his home in Brugnetto and Senigallia, to Abano’s 'Centro Maschere’/‘Museo Internazionale della maschera Amleto e Donato Sartori’ near Padua, Italy, an art centre where he found another big family of artists who loved him throughout his life.

Then since 1991, Pira worked in Ottawa, Canada—for the last 17 years at The Ottawa School of Art* as their building technician and trusted artist-colleague.

Il finale è stato molto pacifico. Grazie a Olando Pirani e Ida Cho e Ilaria Bizzarri e Armando Bizzarri e Elena Bizzarri e Marinella Pirani e Miriam Bordi e alla famiglia e gli amici in Italia.

The whole family benefited from Pira's hospital and community palliative care and end-of-life care. We thank the Maycourt location of Hospice Care Ottawa* for the best palliative care. The nurses, PSWs, volunteers, and other staff made Pira's last couple of weeks easier and safer. You provided a lovely place to enjoy a few days of sunny warm weather near the Rideau River, where Pira rallied to paint and photograph the new buds of spring with friends and family. You allowed us to make some favourite pasta meals—grazie Sarah Sartori, Katy Pirani-Watson e Micaela Pirani-Watson and Brad Snider and Chris Hyndman. You are the best. Thank you Georgette for being there with us. Thank you Dr. Alan Chaput for a peaceful death.

Before he died, Pira had a small gathering of close friends who made a last toast that meant a lot to him and to us. Thank you for reaching out through his recent quick cancer.

Pira loved working and creating with friends, colleagues and students in the art community especially at The Ottawa School of Art*—thanks for your visits, treats, zucchini muffins (Laurence Finet) and funny tirades (yes, Lauren) and the best of the best in the art community. We thank you for the success of the art show “Pira's Retrospective” and “Fundraiser for Pira”—thanks to all of OSA, especially curator Cathy Brake, and to Dawn Dale, Installation Artist.

And thank you to Pira's caring neighbours at the Shefford Heritage Housing Cooperative (his home in Canada for 34 years).

What supportive, inspired and inspiring friends, and especially our family in Canada and in Italy!

*If you would like to donate in Pira's memory: Ottawa School of Art and Hospice Care Ottawa

**CELEBRATION OF LIFE for 'PIRA' Giuliano Pirani, Wed. JUNE 10, 2026, 5-8 p.m.: 

We invite Friends/Colleagues/Patrons to Dominion Chalmers 'Woodside Hall' at 290 Lisgar, corner of O'Connor. 

---Speeches starting at 5:30 p.m.

Grazie dal cuore, thank you, thank you, Pira nostro. May you raise a little Hell!