Gregory Paul Stavish

Greg was always larger than life, smiling, positive and very willing to take the biggest knife to cut the largest slice out of life! He lived every moment of his life at full speed. He lived for his family, his children and grandchildren were his greatest joy. He lived for his friends, they came and went but Greg never ever forgot a face or a story especially if it involved the Jaycees, tear off a piece. He lived on his own terms and passed that way too, in his beloved house on the hill.

From an early age it was clear that Greg was going to make his mark on the world and his chosen sphere was the business world. Beginning in 1960 -1963, Greg began his working life as a paper boy for the Star News and he won three prizes for his ability to secure subscriptions. At 19 he started Gregory Enterprises and began importing items to sell, most notable were the cockroach trap and a meat tenderiser. Greg was on his way. He continued going from strength to strength which led to the Pasadena & Monrovia based Instatape which then went on to become DigiVision in Coeur d'Alene. During his time at the helm of these enterprises Greg's client and customer lists went worldwide.

Greg married Jeannette in 1980 and they spent the first five years of their married life travelling, having adventures, and making plans. The first part of their plan was to have a family, and this is just what they did, welcoming April first and then Michael. For both Greg and Jeannette, the addition of their children was a pinnacle in their lives. In 1990, the next part of their plans came to fruition when they purchased ten of the most beautiful acres of property in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They had long planned to buy a farm and build a home of their dreams. Not many people can live out their dreams but in 1996 they finally built their dream home on the hill. The family took to their new rural life so well that Greg even convinced his lifelong partner in crime, sister Cathy, to move there too. Gerard, his dad, and Jeff, his youngest brother joined them in the mid 90's and they all watched on as the family grew. April married Caleb and had Micah, Eli, and Tommy whilst Michael married Amy and they had Sophia, Jack, and William.

Greg never missed an opportunity to photograph, post, mention or message about his children and grandchildren. Being Papa saw Greg at his finest. His love of and for family is one of the things that will be most missed. Having lost his parents and his two brother's Greg stayed connected with immediate and extended family, always. His New Jersey cousins will no doubt attest to his keeping in touch and travelling for family reunions. He visited his brother Phil and his family in England and even surprised his niece, Chloe, on her wedding day.

Greg kept his ties to the Jaycees from start to finish. He went from Pasadena Chapter President to California President and US Jaycee Vice President. He never forgot a face or a story and despite personal setbacks in recent years his smile never left his eyes. His love of politics, news and rhetoric are well known but by far one of his greatest achievements was something he gained in the latter part of his life, his ability to forgive and admit to his own foibles. Greg had begun to reach out to people who had stepped outside of his world or vice versa.

Each person Greg encountered has their own view of him. In keeping with his spirit, let each person decide on their best memory of Greg and let that be the one you carry with you.

Donations can be made to Phil's Kids charity via the link listed below, just copy and paste.

https://philskids.enthuse.com/cf/in-memory-of-gregory-p-stavish