These are quotes that several people sent to me regarding my son Gregg…..

 

 

Words can’t describe how sad and sorry I am about Gregg.  Although I’ll never know what you are feeling, please know that I am mourning his death as though he was my very own brother.  I loved Gregg and his passion for life.  I loved his stories.  I loved that after he ran the marathon he came to visit my dad in the hospital.  I loved that he always ate the leg at Thanksgiving.

 

• Great collector of inspirational quotes.

• Great motivator and motivated many others to do many things.

• As physically intimidating as he was, he was gentle.

• Great lawyer and would read & study a great deal about great lawyers.

• Fearless and traveled to Japan on a cheap ticket on condition the plane was in the air during Y2K.

• Traveled to Israel just days before the Gulf War.

• Very in touch with his Judaism.

• Would go on long runs in Miami past Chabad and stop in for prayers, and then continue his run knowledgeable about Judaism.

• After long Yom Kippur service with Shai in Miami, broke fast at a bar.

• When in perilous situations he had the convincing ability to say, “Don’t worry, I have everything under control.”

 

 

I had been keeping up with Gregg and his wonderful photographs of Africa.  In law school Gregg was a warm, funny, darling man.  I even shared a few Jewish holidays with him.  The extent of this devastating loss is immeasurable.  The world was definitely a better place with people like Gregg in it.

 

I met him in law school, and we maintained sporadic contact over the years…most recently the Shabbos before he left for Ethiopia, I saw him in the Shul of Bal Harbour.  He was always such a pleasant and fun person to be around…and, above all, a real mentsch.  Take some solace in the fact that Gregg was really one of the good guys (and there aren’t too many), and he will be sorely missed.  No question that Gregg had a ticket directly to heaven.  Knowing him however he is probably defending for free a bunch of others who are fighting to get in there.

 

I met Gregg a few years ago when I was living in Miami; he was a very great inspiration to me.  He was so kind, considerate, had a great sense of humor, an amazing positive attitude towards life and really inspired me so many ways.  So much that when I returned to London these past two years I have ran the London marathon for various charities and I owe a lot to your son for his support and discussions we use to have about running and motivation.  Your son was a true friend to me and these are very rare to find.  I will miss him very much.

 

 

 

I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND.

 

Some additional comments:

As a father, I can honestly say that we did a lot together and I don’t feel like I should have or could have.

I remember Gregg telling me that he was going to run against an incumbent for the Student Bar Association and the position offers free tuition at the University of Miami School of Law. The Libelous Per Se of April 1, 1993, The Offensive Newspaper of the UMSL—Head Line read “Riergate: Wenzel, real winner”. Gregg loss,(361 to 344) because some ballots could not be found or possibly shredded---what else is new with elections in Florida. I love and will miss you-- Dad