Gregor Florian Gregorich

Gregor F. Gregorich ("Greg") died peacefully on October 20 at the age of 88. He was a lawyer by profession, a voracious reader, an accomplished amateur artist, and an avid skier and bicyclist.

Greg worked as a trial lawyer for 36 years for law firms based in New York City. He enjoyed his work, particularly his courtroom appearances, until his retirement at the age of 68.

Before pursuing a career as a lawyer, Greg wanted to be a professional artist. A lifelong member of the Art Students League of New York, he produced hundreds of paintings, including a few commissioned portraits of his Greenwich neighbors. He also shared his passion for art with his children, often visiting museums with them to see impressionist exhibits.

Greg was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. His mother, Zora, was a Serbian born in Pirot, and his father, Danilo, a Slovenian, was a politician, lawyer, and newspaper editor. Greg left Yugoslavia as World War II was coming to a close, and lived in Bavaria, Germany, until 1950 before immigrating to Champaign-Urbana, IL. He graduated from University High School, Urbana, in 1953 and enrolled as a student in the University of Illinois' College of Fine and Applied Arts.

In 1955, Greg interrupted his education to enlist in the U.S. Army's Tenth (Mountain) Infantry Division and, following basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, served in Bamberg, Germany as an Operations and Intelligence Specialist. He was also an Army journalist, writing articles for the 10th Division News, for Stars & Stripes.

Greg finished college at the University of California, Berkeley, CA, graduating with honors and Phi Beta Kappa in 1960. A saber and epée fencer, Greg earned a Fencing Team Varsity Letter from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bronze Medal in the Western Intercollegiate Fencing Championship.

Greg graduated from Harvard Law School with an L.L.B. in 1964 and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for the study of law for a post-graduate year at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. He then began his legal career in New York City in 1965. Greg became a partner in two large international law firms and was a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Council on Germany and of the U.S.-Yugoslav Economic Council.

A resident of Cos Cob, Greg had previously lived in Riverside, CT. He was a member of the board of directors of the Riverside Association and served for a time as its President. Additionally, he was a longtime member of the Harvard Club of New York City and a member of Innis Arden Golf Club. He remained an avid sportsman, competing in fencing tournaments in Connecticut and in inter-club tennis matches as a member of the Innis Arden Club tennis team. He was also an enthusiastic long-distance bicycle rider, ice hockey player, and skied every winter for many years in Vermont, the Austrian Alps, and Mont Tremblant, Canada.

Greg is survived by his wife, Helma, and their son, Alexander; by his children from his first marriage with Barbara Brown Lott: Andrea and Michael; and by his grandchildren, Robert, Laura, Evelyn, Dolan, Sam, Quinn, and Margaret. He was predeceased by his sister, Elisabeth Gleason, PhD.

A funeral mass will be celebrated by St Catherine's Roman Catholic Church at 11 am on October 25. Donations in his name may be made to James A. Peters VAMC Bronx, NY, at Veteran Affairs www.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online.