Eulogies from Ted Gregg and Charlie Bollman

The following is the audio from the eulogies by Ted Gregg (Tom's brother) and Charlie Bollman (Tom's Brother-in-law):

Ted Gregg:

Charlie Bollman:

Charlie Bollman Reflections

The following wonderful reflection was delivered by Charlie Bollman (Tom's brother-in-law, married to Cindy, Kris's sister) at Tom's ceremony.

Good morning,

On behalf of Kris, Christopher, Tory and Ned

I am honored to have the opportunity to share my reflections of Tom Gregg. Tom has been a part of my life for close to 40 years. I have countless cherished memories of time spent together with our wives, children, extended families and several very special sailing trips.

Although I grew to know Tom on many levels, including as a wise business-man and as a true lifelong friend, family was the essence of Tom. His mother and father, Lois and Ned, nurtured a character of openness, of hospitality, of adventure, and love of all people – especially those invited into his home.

Tom touched many peoples lives and his legacy will be remembered not so much in his earthly accomplishments, of which there were many, but rather in the values and character of his person. These values were carefully and intentionally nurtured in his own children, in his relationship with his wife, Krissy, and in the loyalty he showed his friends.

My first encounter with Tom was on a Friday night in the late ‘60s. I was working @ Victory Supermarket in Syracuse NY bagging groceries. Suddenly there was a commotion @ the attached drug store. It was Halloween and a man …dressed as a Playboy Bunny had gone into Carl’s Drug. I left my station to get a glimpse and returned doubled over in laughter – the costume was great – but the way Tom casually completed his business left us all in stitches. He never did loose that calm, collected, dry sense of humor that endeared him to us all. It would be a year or two until I would officially meet Tom – this time as a potential brother in law.

After Cindy and I were married my friendship with Tom deepened even as we lived in different cities. Tom knew we were on a tight budget and would invite us to vacation at their lake house while they were away. His generosity was freely given and we could bookend time with them on each side of the week – days were filled with tennis, golf, sailing, swimming… and more sailing.

As many of you know Tom was an avid sailor. I learned many of my sailing skills from Tom – he had a gift for teaching that he learned from his father. There was something about the open water and endless possibilities of direction that both stirred and calmed his soul. Christopher, my oldest son, once commented that when Uncle Tom spoke, you listened. Not out of fear, but rather the respect for Tom’s natural, commanding presence.

Some of my most fond memories include the catamaran on the lake in NY, adventures in the Caribbean, and multi day trips on Lake Michigan where we both discovered what we thought to be heaven earth – kringles (which if you do not know are the most delicious, if not healthiest, morning snack invented by the Danes)! It was during those times that I realized Tom was not just a friend, but rather a brother.

It was on these trips where Tom and I would open up and share both our life dreams and our struggles. Tom and I both had difficulty trusting in God at times in our life. Over the years God became more of a mainstay in our discussions and I saw a spiritual change in both of us.

One sailing trip sticks out more then others. Tom, in honoring his father, made arrangements for a week-long trip in the Caribbean in 2004. The trip was simply perfect. I will never forget the evening we laughed heartily as all of us fell out of our dingy trying to get ashore for dinner. The islands were overtaken with poverty, it was raw. Tom’s heart was affected. As we both agreed, Jesus was softening our exteriors of self-reliance and a sense of personal faith was growing. Tom shared with me that he was seeing the hand of God in his relationship with Krissy like never before – he loved her dearly.

Having grandkids opened Tom’s vulnerability. Tom found great peace and enjoyment in grand parenting as he could simply enjoy being in the presence of his grandchildren. This also enabled him to find his spiritual center and opened his heart to a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Although Tom has left us early and his grandchildren may not come to know him as he would of wished, I do know that they will come to know his spirit, wisdom, and loyalty that survives in Krissy, Christopher and Tory.

Simply put, Tom was an amazing man, husband and father.

Memorial Service Slide Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6eCMiLrhc

Obituary

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailypress/obituary.aspx?n=thomson-r-gregg&pid=142024522

Hotel Information

Williamsburg Lodge

Contact Mimi at 484-723-3443 for reservations

Reduced group rate offered

For information about the hotel follow the following link:
http://www.history.org/visit/hotels/williamsburgLodge/index.cfm

Memorial Service

Tom's Memorial Service
Saturday, April 24th at 10AM
Williamsburg Community Chapel
3899 John Tylor Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
http://www.wcchapel.org/

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Please do not send flowers. Charitable contributions can be made to the Lackey Free Clinic in York, Virginia.

It is an organization that provides free medical services to the uninsured. This is an organization that Tom & Kris have supported significantly in recent years.

You can send a check donation indicating in the memory of Tom Gregg, Designation Building Fund to:
Lackey Free Clinic
1620 Old Williamsburg Road
Yorktown, VA 23690

Or, please go to the following site to make a donation:
http://www.lackeyfreeclinic.com/donations.html
Click the Donate Now button.
Write in Building Fund in the designation area and put Tom's name in the dedication area.