Tribute to Greg 4-14-07
from Mom, Dad , Mike, Chris and Paul
Today we are together to celebrate and to pay tribute to Greg
Vasich’s memory and the fullness of his short life. We want to reflect on his
life and remember him. Together as we share memories, he will be cherished and
renewed in our hearts. This day was to have been a memorial service for Greg,
but since memorial services aren’t held during the weeks before and after
Easter, we are instead celebrating his life today.
So many memories come to mind when thinking of Greg. He lived by his words,
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead” and filled each day to the fullest. There were
countless enthusiastically watched basketball, football and baseball games.
There were movies to view, books to read, music to listen to and after writing
the paper that was due the next day, poker to play online. Sometimes wish I
could get as enthusiastic about one thing as he was about everything.
Greg was rarely alone or quiet, usually talking on the phone or to the many
people he surrounded himself with. Greg was a great friend and always made time
for everyone. Greg was a devoted brother and he marveled at his 3 brothers’
accomplishments and their spirit. He was an adored and respected son, who
encouraged and expected fairness while giving all unconditional love. It was
unfair that he was taken from us so soon, but we are so grateful for the time we
had with him.
Greg was so happy he regularly made up words because I guess the English
language did not have enough descriptors like Fantabulous, craptastic, or
sayings like Hey Buster, what’s the dealio? How many times did you hear him say
Awesome, wonderful, cool beans, snap! Or, no problem.
Greg lived a wonderful life. He wrote about each stage of his life in his school
journals. At Maplebrook he wrote about wanting to play outside all day, having
longer recesses, if he were the teacher kids would have recess all day. Greg
wrote that no matter how hard he practiced and wrote his ABC’s they still looked
messy…He thought his family was kind and fun. Then he began to be interested in
sports and wrote many entries about da Bears, Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls. In
junior high he wrote book reports from authors Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Michael
Crichton and many more. He again wrote a lot of things about sports, Walter
Payton, the Cubbies, the Olympics, his own teams. He wrote about his football
card collection, Magic the Gathering and family vacations.
In high school he wrote about his dad, Jenny, his brothers and all the required
topics of high school classes. He did a speech about the 81 Pontiac Bonneville.
His teacher seemed to like it very much. Greg saved everything. He saved notes
and jokes from friends, ticket stubs from sports games, movies and concerts.
Mementos from Germany and Disney band trips. Awards, pins and certificates he
earned. There are marching band photos, jazz band photos, homecoming and prom
mementos and senior pictures from 20 or so friends. Then he went on to college
where his collection of books, movies, papers and CD’s really diversified. He
had books on Chaucer, Shakespeare, Joyce, women’s issues, minority issues, film,
cinemas studies, Poker, and Europe, to name a few Greg enjoyed college life and
we are grateful that he had the chance to enjoy that time in his short life.
Since Champaign was only a 2 hour drive away, we were fortunate enough to be
able to visit for football games and other events, and he would occasionally
come home on weekends. We have many wonderful memories of that time in his life
– Marching Illini, Chicago Bear football, Dad’s day, band concerts, lunch after
the football game at Buffalo Wild Wings, Fat Don’s grilling…how would Greg have
reacted to the basketball teams’ run to the final game and no Chief Illiniwek?
In the words of Greg’s friends, Annie, Jenny and Mary Lee: Greg meant so much to
the people who were closest to him. He loved the adventures of life; he was an
optimist, a team player and supportive friend, a fine musician, and a motivated,
successful student. Most importantly, Greg was a man of character and moral
courage: loyal, kind, patient, loving, and sought always to put others before
himself.
Greg was a delight. He was friendly and respectful. Energetic and steadfast, he
was oh so brilliant and humble. He gently inspired us all to be our best. He had
high expectations for himself and others. He followed the rules on friendship,
love and life. Greg was a friend to many, a loving brother and duty bound son.
He made time for everyone and connected to all each time he conversed with you.
You were strong and smart and righteous. You gave us such joy for 23 years. We
are lucky to have had you in our lives. You always worked incredibly hard on
every thing from school to work to sports, friends, and family. You were caring
and loving and concerned for others. You knew everything about sports, movies,
books - frequently winning at Trivial Pursuit. You are missed by so many people.
You brought sunshine into the lives of everyone you knew.
We all know Greg would want us to take as much pleasure and joy from life as he
did. There was nothing he enjoyed more than being in the company of family and
friends, and I’m sure he is with us here in spirit. Being with friends and
family and being able to share this time together in memory of Greg is so
important to us. Your love and friendship was so important in the time
immediately after Greg died, and it’s important now. We are grateful.
No one could have imagined that something like this could happen to him. Since
he died, we have become much more aware of how all too often this tragedy (the
loss of young lives) is repeated.
We can’t know why some things happen, but we can know that love and beautiful
memories outlast the pain of grief. And we can know that there’s a place inside
the heart where love lives always, and where nothing beautiful can ever be
forgotten.
We look at your pictures and remember you daily. We cherish our memories. We
will gather together yearly and send our thoughts and prayers your way. Father
Dennis reminds us that now that you are closer to God, so are we because we have
loved you. We will continue to love and miss you forever. We miss your face,
your smile, your laugh, your hug, your dance, your cheer. We cannot believe you
have been gone for 3 years. We miss the sound of your voice. We miss your:
“He-llo?” when you came home. Your “How’s your day”? Your “See, I was thinkin
that if…..” We miss all your math figurings about this and that. And, we miss
the path of Greg stuff you would leave every where. Yours was a life well lived.
We are thankful we had you in our lives for 23 years. We are honored to have
been your parents and we loved you deeply. We will never forget your laugh, your
smile, your joy.
Read aloud all together:
God Bless You. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord’s face radiate
with joy because of you. May He be gracious to you; show you his favor and give
you his peace.
Lord, we pray that nothing of Greg’s life will be lost, but that it will be of
benefit to the world. We ask you Lord that he may go on living in his family and
friends in their hearts and minds, their caring and their love.