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Rev. Gregory P. Sykes
Rev. Gregory P. Sykes
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Gregory Sykes Obituary
This obituary was originally published in the Buffalo News.
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jim destino
November 10, 2023
First memory was of him in Basic Training in our Unit----think about him often...passed shortly after my brother, at age 58----was a tough year
jim destino
November 11, 2019
STILL LOVED AND STILL MISSED!
John Campbell
August 14, 2015
Fr Greg and I are were classmates at CGSC. Never bothered him I was an AF officer. Seriously, he was kind to me in and my family. We kept in touch for a couple years and I too was thinking of him recently and decided to look him up. I'm sad to learn of his passing but am thankful USMA class has kept this page alive as testimony to the great influence he has had on many. I enjoyed our philosophical discussions and his running commentary of many of the speakers during our year together at Leavenworth. I still recall the conversation my wife and he had about frog legs - are they meat or not and can we eat them on nk-meat days. It was a hoot. He is my all-time favorite priest! My condolences to all his family at this long time after his passing. I'm certain he is with our heavenly Father.
Jennifer Kirwan
January 9, 2015
Rev. Sykes married my husband and I at St. Ignatious Chapel in Fort Leavenworth in 1996. We were so very young as I was finishing college and about to earn my commission in the US Army. We have now been married over 18 years and are so very thankful for the pivotal marriage guidance Rev. Sykes gave us in the months before our marriage. I remember him looking at our young puppy love faces saying "Marriage is not to be taken lightly" and "If you keep Christ at the center of your marriage always, you can build a lifetime on Him." Those messages continue to help strengthen us even today. People still talk about our ceremony that Rev. Skykes commanded and how they had never experienced a more powerful message about marriage than on that day. He did something that I had never seen before in a Catholic ceremony. Rev. Sykes invited EVERYONE that attended to join us in celebrating communion, not just Catholics. He told the guests that if they truly believed that the bread was truly that of our savior, Jesus Christ, that he invited those to celebrate the beautiful occasion and receive the body of Christ with us. It was so moving and as a young couple he made such an impact on how we would take our first steps as husband and wife.
I was driving home today and was thinking about how thankful I am for Rev. Sykes looking back on the last two decades. I thought that I would try to get in contact with him as I have wanted to for 18 very busy years, to tell him just how thankful I am for him. I was so very sad to hear that he had passed. Please accept my deepest sympathy and know that his legacy and impact lives on in the lives of others. He is not forgotten.
Thank you to the friends of the USMA'01 for maintaining this guest book so that people like me can contribute our "thank you's" and see how he has touted the hearts of others.
I hope it's one awesome party in heaven, Rev. Sykes. We will see you again, our friend and brother in Christ.
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stephanie harris
October 24, 2011
I worked for Chaplain Sykes for 2 years at Saint Ignatious Chapel in Kansas. I was his chaplain assistant for those years and myself and all the other chaplain assistants loved him. Today i decided to try to find him on facebook. Googled his name and found this. I am so sad i didn't know this happened. After his mom died and he got some of her furnature he gave me some of his, knowing i was a young struggling soldier. He was a wonderful man and boss and he will be greatly missed!
DONALD DEPATIE
December 10, 2007
Dear Tom & Dennis,
As a classmate from Louvain, I was stunned to hear of Greg's death. We were good friends at Louvain, and both military chaplains (Navy). Be assured of my prayers for you and your family. I will offer a mass in Greg's memory at my parish.
Peace-
Rev. Donald L. Depatie
Fred Genge
December 3, 2007
Fr. Sykes:
You are enjoying the fruits of your labors. You have touched more lives than you could have ever imagined while you were with us.
My wife Ann and I count ourselves very lucky to have met and known you for the short time we had.
We are thankful to God for that time as we know our son is.
Annette Middleton
November 29, 2007
Upon meeting Fr. Greg at West Point several years ago, I immedately knew God had blessed this world with someone special. He was a good friend to my nephew, Capt. Nick Cook, and he made our family feel like part of his own. Now with his Lord and Savior, I pray that together they can help bring this world to peace. God Bless and our prayers to his family and friends.
Annette (Cook) and Gary Middleton
Don Mann
November 28, 2007
Bobbie and I met Father Greg when he traveled to Michigan from Belgium to marry our daughter Sarah and Nick Cook. Nick met Greg at West Point and they became very close friends. I know Greg enjoyed his weekend here back in 2001. He was an outstanding man.
Nicholas Cook
November 27, 2007
Father Greg,
From the days I spent with you at West Point, my marriage to Sarah, and our visit in Belgium; you were a great friend. I know my and Sarah's family will miss you dearly. Please continue to watch over my family. I will miss you.
Ruth Konrek
November 25, 2007
It was such and honor to have Fr. Greg as part of our family and our lives. He was always there when we needed him for happy and sad times.
Out of respect, he will always be Fr. Greg--but he would hug me and say, "hey, cousin, I'm Greg!"
He will forever remain in my thoughts, my prayers, and in my heart.
Ruth Sykes Konrek
Ray Vasile
November 20, 2007
It has been an honor to be one of Greg's drivers over the last two years. I'll miss, but certainly never forget the many conversations we had ranging from the political to the spiritual. His insight was keen and his counsel true and sincere. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his service to the Church and our beloved country. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
John Bessler
November 20, 2007
Father Greg was a great friend to my wife and family while we were stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in the mid 1990s. He was so kind and approachable. I well recall how the youngest kids would flock to him for the blessing after Eucharist. We had him over for dinner several times, and our daughter (2-4 yrs old at the time) was in love with him - she couldn't stay out of his lap. The memory of him trying to gently extricate himself from her chubby little arms still makes me smile. He was also there for me for counseling on a number of occasions, and my wife and I enjoyed visiting him at his incredible quarters at West Point when he was stationed there soon after. He was a great friend to my wife and I, and we cherish the memories we have of him.
Carolyn Konrek
November 20, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family as I share in your sorrow in losing Greg. He is my second cousin and my Mom-Ruth Konrek's first cousin.
I so admired Greg for his dedication to his faith, his family, and his country. He so willingly traveled to be with our family and officiate at all our happy and sad occasions and--many times--making great sacrifices to do so.
I last saw Greg at my father's funeral - (Eugene Konrek.) I'll never forget what a great comfort Greg was to all of us Konreks' and what a wonderful tribute he gave to my father. He will be greatly missed in many ways.
God bless all of you and give you comfort and peace knowing Greg is happily in a high place in heaven.
Pam Haisman
November 20, 2007
Greg's funeral is taking place at this very moment in NY. And we, the Haisman Family of Florida and Tennessee and Delaware, unite with you all through our prayers, thoughts and Mass. Greg is a first cousin of of my Mom's (Ruth Sykes Konrek, daughter of Stanley who was Uncle Phil's brother.)Greg was an "angel" for our family. He officiated at all three of our children's weddings, our son Gary's funeral (Gary died as a Marine in the Iraq in 1991, 10 months after his wedding)), and even my Dad's funeral in 2004. We all remember his first Mass, his visits to Florida, his "playful" and loving spirit, and his compassion. We will never forget him. He was so special to our family, in good times and in bad. He was our strength. We love him. And we just know that Dad and Gary were there to greet him when he entered Heaven. May God bless them all for all eternity.
Pam (The Donald Haisman Family)
Daniel Maciejewski
November 20, 2007
We are truly sorry for your loss. Father Greg will be in our thoughts and prayers...
Doug Wolfmueller
November 19, 2007
My memories of Greg span more than 40 years. I first met him while in the management training program at Liberty Bank. Since we partied hard around the Buffalo night scene, I remember being shocked the day that he walked into my office and said that he was entering the seminary to become a Catholic Priest. He said that he had thought long and hard about his decision to enter the seminary, that it was a calling that he had to follow. Sure to his word, he stuck with it.
Throughout his training we stayed connected through many letters and phone calls. His communications were always the highlight of my day and he signed every letter with the words Peace, Greg.
Sometime after completing his training and after a few assignments, his Bishop asked him to serve in the military. His reservations soon melted away after he saw how he could help so many needy young people. I remember that he also agonized over taking War Training at Ft. Knox, but it was a stepping stone to high positions at NATO in Belgium and then West Point. I know that all of his friends and family must have been proud of his accomplishments. During those years he sent many momentos from each locale, which my wife and I will always treasure. Even though we only saw each other every few years, I considered him my best friend. My wife Michele and I always admired his wit, his intellect and his friendship. We both have a hole in our heats. He was like a brother to me and I will truly miss him.
Laura Sowa
November 19, 2007
As the granddaughter of Ruth (Sykes) Konrek I have know Greg my whole life as a loving, fun, and special cousin. No matter where he was in the world, he always seemed to make himself available for all of our weddings, funerals and important days. Greg had a way of making each person he spoke with feel special. Our visits with him are some of my favorite childhood memories. There will never be a person like Fr./cousin Greg Sykes. We'll miss him deeply.
Cyndy Davis
November 18, 2007
I met Greg over 35 years ago. He was a dear friend to my ex husband Jim Davis and the beloved godfather of our son Andrew. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life to its fullest. I remember sharing a few "cocktails" and lots of laughs at the "White House" in Amherst...you may not know this side of Greg since this is before he entered the seminary...he was a wonderful man. The world is a poorer place without him.
Becky Larson
November 18, 2007
Dear Fr. Greg,
Cousin Lillian passed 11/23/2004. I know that she and your mo m and dad along with other relatives and dear ones were there to guide you directly to the higher planes of heaven. We are blessed to have had you in our lives.
,
With Love,
cousin Becky
Mary Shanahan
November 18, 2007
Dear Father Greg, my memory of you will be the sermon you gave at a children's Christmas mass. I have never forgotten how the entire congregation heard your every word. I later sat with you at a breakfast & I begged you to let me know when and where you would give mass again. May you rest in peace knowing how many of us enjoyed your presence here on earth.
Sue Sykes
November 17, 2007
My husband, Don Sykes, was Fr. Greg's cousin and since losing Don over 3 years ago, Greg has continued to call me "cousin" and assure me of a continued place in the Sykes Family. His loss puts another void in my heart, but I'm sure Don has already welcomed Greg to Heaven. Rest in peace, dear Greg.
mike kopczynski
November 17, 2007
Fr. Greg - You were a dear friend and a wonderful priest. Thank you for helping me with my spirituality. You are in my daily prayers always. Now rest in the Peace & Joy of our good and gracious God. Deacon Mike
Jim Destin0
November 17, 2007
Our family will miss you and are so appreciative for all the things you have done for us and others. Thank you too for your friendship which started at Basic Training, Ft. Dix, NJ, in August 1966.
Love and Peace Be With You,
-The Destino Family
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