Gregory True

Gregory True
09/12/2024
Gregory Perrin True passed away unexpectedly, at his home in Oakland, CA, at the age of 74.
Greg was born on July 23, 1950, in Washington, D.C., to Isabel Wightman True and William Ray True, Sr. ("Ray"), shortly before Ray shipped out to the Korean War as a naval medical officer. Isabel moved with Greg and his older brother, Bill, to Bethany, MO, to live near extended family during Ray's tour abroad, and then to San Diego, CA, where Ray served after his tour.
A drive up the California coast resulted in the family's settling in Carmel when Greg was 3 years old. He developed a deep love of the landscape and natural surroundings there, along with the local lore. Due to a congenital heart defect discovered when he was quite young, his family took great care to preserve his health, and he eventually had an open heart surgery at age 11, when the procedure in children was still new. Greg took good care of his health throughout his life, adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise, including hiking and backpacking in the Sierras.
Greg attended Carmel High School and was a member of the golf team. Coming of age in the 1960s, he was influenced by the music scene and counterculture taking shape in California. He was dazzled by the Monterey Pop Festival in '67, along with Big Sur Folk Festivals and other iconic events he attended in that era. He studied art at the University of California, Davis, where he spent many hours soaking in the scene at TB-9, was exposed to major artists such as Robert Arneson and Wayne Thiebaud, and built the first salt kiln on the West Coast. He worked as a young man for Monterey architect/builder Roger Larson, who sparked his interest in organic design and love of craftsmanship. Greg fostered his interest in spatial composition while building many houses in the Tahoe basin. He then went back to school in his 30s to earn his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon. His 25-year architecture career involved both residential and public work, including the historic renovation of the Grand Theater Center for the Arts in Tracy, CA. He loved the collaborative aspect of the design process.
Greg developed several deep friendships throughout his life. His memoir "Thanks for Being There" celebrated his exceptional friendship with Marc Richards. Even when not in close contact, his friends were very present in his heart. He was a loyal and loving partner to Leslie for 32 years, and they shared many adventures together. He was also a loving and proud father of his son, Perrin; and his daughter, Gaea. A deeply curious person who loved learning, Greg's broad range of interests included music, history, theater, art, architecture, cities and urban development, travel, cinema, and nature. In his 60s, Greg's interest in genealogy became a passion, which he approached with inquisitiveness and care, tracing the True family's patrilineal line back ten generations and writing an engaging history that follows this lineage through time - from Colonial New England in the 1600s through Westward Expansion, the Gold Rush in the 1800s, and beyond.
Greg is survived by his wife, Leslie Woodside; and son, Perrin True, both of Oakland, CA; his daughter, Gaea True of Sacramento, CA; his brother, Bill True and sister-in-law, Louise Flick, both of Saint Louis, MO; and numerous other family members and friends who will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Isabel and Ray True.
Greg's family gathered to remember him shortly after his passing. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes stories and remembrances from Greg's wide circle of friends and acquaintances.