Gregory T. Stengel

"Hail to the Great Man: the genius, the hippie, the contrarian thinker, the man with a clear philosophical view and conviction, the anti-bureaucrat, the legend who we had the great good fortune to have known," wished a friend.

Accomplished real estate maven, attorney, investor, and community figure leaves behind his wife Mila and 3 daughters: Jennifer Moonbeam, Milena, and Abigail. He enjoyed grooving to music, photography, waxing philosophical, debating topics, and being a global citizen.

He grew up in Chadwick, IL, attended Shimer College, graduated as a philosophy major from the University of Chicago and as an attorney from the University of Pennsylvania. As a corporate attorney at Equitable Law Firm, he worked on a deal to refinance Puerto Rico, among many other projects. During this time, his entrepreneurial spirit flourished in real estate as he began to acquire residential rental properties in upstate NY. A hippie at heart, he attended the Woodstock Festival, enjoyed the local cultural and music scenes, and later built a cabin himself (with help from friends) on a mountaintop in Woodstock. His adventurous spirit led him with family and friends on van trips across the country, a week-long boat ride down the Amazon, and other travels to Costa Rica, Europe, Thailand and more. A hero to his friends, brave explorer of the good life, independent thinker, leader, and businessman, he shaped and designed his own life. As he often quoted: "the unexamined life is not worth living." His enthusiasm, joie de vivre, and party-making will be missed. As a friend wished, "May the four winds blow the Big Man safely home."

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Lanark Cemetery.