Condolence: Greg's lifelong friend Skip shared this with me after Greg's memorial service. He was unable to share it then, but I've asked his permission to share it here. Thanks, Skip!


Greg’s Bon Voyage

Hello.. I think most of you know me, but for those who don’t, my name is Skip Barton.
I’d like to say a couple of quick things.
The First thing is, that Greg and I became friends, 40 some odd years ago. Our relationship continued, for better or for worse, like lots of relationships, until his untimely death, just a few short weeks ago…. Greg, I will forever miss you.
Second, and most importantly, I would like to thank Greg’s wife Renie for inviting us all here today to share some of our memories of Greg, and for standing by Greg these past years.
Renie you were truly Greg’s best friend. Greg was lucky to have found you, and blessed to have been able to share these past years with you. Thank You Renie. I know that you meant the World to Greg.

A Greg Story
If anybody here has Greg story, I have Greg a story. But… a good percentage of my Greg stories involve him and I doing one stupid thing or another and those just wouldn’t be fitting to share with you… Greg and I did raise a little bit of trouble in our day.


Some Memories I Have of Greg
• I remember Playing Little League Baseball with Greg while growing up in Brockton . True Fact: We are both left handed.
• I can remember Greg and I in Cub Scouts, pricking our fingers with our Swiss Army Knives and becoming Blood Brothers.
• I can remember playing Hockey with Greg, and my Dad as our Coach.
• I can remember the Hundreds, if not Thousands of hours, we used to spend riding around on our Bikes, Dirt Bikes and Mopeds.
• I can remember the many Pool Parties we used to throw at his house in Brockton.
• I can remember the Summer Trips, to what seemed like the Donahue Compound in Wareham and the time that Marita and Greg brought me skiing for my first time at Temple Mountain.
Those are just a few short quick memories of Greg that I have from our younger days, and I could go on and on…..I could share stories about Greg’s first dates, Greg’s first loves, or what he and I perceived as love back then at 13 years old, Stories about Greg’s first Boat and even Greg’s first, and pretty sure only time, that Greg was ever arrested. I was there for all of it. Greg and I were pretty much inseparable back in the day.


But the 4 most cherished Memories of Greg that I hold are:
• He was the Best Man at my wedding.
• I was the Best Man at His and Renie’s wedding.
• The fact that Greg was my oldest Son Beaus Godfather.
• And of course, how Greg was there for me when my Dad past.
Greg was a very special person in my life, for a very long time.



A word about Greg and his Boats
Next to Greg’s Love for Renie, Boats were certainly number 2 in Greg’s life. Without a doubt, some of the best times any of us here shared with Greg, were on one of his boats, and I am absolutely positive, that some of the best times Greg shared with any of us, were on one of his boats too. We all need to remember those times.

If you don’t mind, I would like to read you a poem. It was purposely written for a Yachtsman’s Funeral. You may or may not have heard it before. It really reminded me of Greg when I read it for the first time. It is Titled Safe Harbor and was written by Jennifer Hickok.



Safe Harbor
Written by Jennifer Hickok

The storm has been raging for so long now
Pouring Rain, crashing thunder, Howling Wind
Beating down on this Lonely Ship
Searching for a place to call Home


There was a time; It seems so long ago
The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky
Looking up from the bow into forever
A gentle Breeze, cotton candy clouds


But the storm slowly moved in
A few scattered showers and thunderstorms
Days of downpour, flashes of lightning
With Shelter so hard to find


Rainbows still shone, beacons of hope
In the unlikeliest places
Vibrant against a backdrop of gray
A glimpse at the best of times

As the years passed by
The storms changed, getting worse
Getting better, and fading away
But they’d left their mark

A vessel is forever changed
When touched that way
And although you can rebuild
The damage has been done

Horrible storms had been forecast
For the not so distant future
But they wouldn’t hit this ship
Not again, no more damage would be done

The ship will be protected now
Lost no more, tossed about no longer
Safe in a harbor to forever call home



My Heart Felt Sympathies and Condolences to all of Greg’s Friends and Family.

Above Water… Down and Out.

Condolence: Dear Marita and Lisa,
I remember an adorable,fair haired boy "toodling" around at Grandma Rita's and Grandpa George's house on West St. in Brockton,I can still picture him there.
Greg did so much with his shortened time on earth and he leaves a beautiful legacy .
Please accept my deepest sympathies at your loss.
Much heartfelt love to you both,
Paula Young xo

Condolence: Dear Lisa and Marita,
My heart is full of sadness for you in this loss. We have very fond memories of meeting Greg and going boating with him and the kids, Lisa and Allen, a day on a island beach, navigating home in the fog that evening. Sending love and prayers to both of you and all who knew Greg. Sincerely, Linda and Joe