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 AB'67 and as an attorney from the University of Pennsylvania. As a VP 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. There will be a luncheon to follow the graveside service at The Copper Cow in Mt. Carroll, IL. Friends and family are welcome to join the Zoom livestream graveside service at the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84451739073?pwd=8Ukw8ygkALc4qXdTpJ1iI0OowgwYGR.1