Gregory Lynn Stewart passed away peacefully on October 24, 2023, in Canton, Georgia, surrounded by the love of his life, Nancy, his loving daughter, Chelsea, their yappy dogs, Kibbles and Bexley, and the memory of Coop.

Friends knew Greg as a yard-mowing machine, a talented handyman, a psycho-cycling enthusiast, and a sports photographer for the YMCA, Windward Lake Club and Mount Pisgah (a/k/a Mr. Paparazzi). Greg always helped people, freely offered his time, had an infectious smile, and made everyone feel good. But wait, there is so much more that you don't know about him.

Greg was born in Lima, Ohio, on January 10, 1953, to George and Mary Stewart. He spent his early days frolicking on Grandpa's farm and pedaling six miles to the local golf course with a bag of clubs on his shoulder. If you couldn't find Greg golfing, he was probably racing dirt bikes or embarking on some epic adventure. When he got to Shawnee High School, Greg was a star athlete who excelled in baseball, wrestling, and football. This guy did it all – he even sang in high school musicals and at his graduation!

Greg sang in a band, a convenient excuse to hang out at bars around the college he attended, THE Ohio State University. Greg and guitarist, Kent Darbyshire (Darby), took road trips in Greg's Impala, convertible top down and music blaring, to places like Northern Michigan to go camping in the summer of 1972. They stayed very close over the years and even sang at each other's weddings.

Ah, Nancy (or Nan as Greg affectionately called her), the love of Greg's life. They met while playing racquetball at the Findlay YMCA, fell in love, and embarked on a magical journey together, celebrating 43 blissful years of marriage. Early on, Nan and Greg drove from Ohio to Arizona in a Honda Civic with no AC. Now that's love. Along the way, they bought a pair of old cross-country skis at a salvage store and took them back to Ohio. Greg meticulously refinished them and decided to test them out on a local golf course. The two of them were on a tee box about five feet up and Greg asked if it was a gentle slope down, to which Nancy looked and said "Sure." Well, Greg quickly face-planted into six feet of snow as Nancy almost fell over laughing so hard.

Greg and Nancy made so many memories together, often doing something active like running in Peachtree Road Races and playing USTA/ALTA "mixed troubles." And then they were blessed when Chelsea was born. She meant everything to Greg. He encouraged her in whatever she did, such as upping her tennis game. In Chelsea's middle school years, Greg cleared out the garage and painted a tennis net on the wall so she could whack a ball any time of day or night. And the time Greg traveled to Chelsea's tournament in Mobile, he was so excited to stay overnight and watch her play. Sure, he almost burned down the hotel but it was for a good reason – nuking popcorn for his little girl.

Greg's passion for life extended into his professional work, where he spent an incredible 45 years making a difference at the YMCA. His career began at Lima YMCA as an Associate Physical Director, later spreading his charm to the Findlay YMCA and Metro Atlanta YMCA. Greg's dedication reached its peak when he retired as the Executive Director of the J.M. Tull YMCA and Group VP of Metro Atlanta YMCA at age 60. Not one to rest, he picked up cycling in retirement, proudly completing five 400-mile BRAGs (Bicycle Rides Across Georgia) by the age of 67 (again,
the psycho-cyclist).

The Hillbrooke community became family to Greg, Nancy, and Chelsea, and they are grateful for having friends there for 33 years. Neighbors would regularly see Greg heading home on car rides with Nancy after hitting the 30A bike trails, or Sunday mornings with Chelsea from Dunkin – top down and music blaring like it's 1972, joyously singing all of his fav songs. To paraphrase one of Greg's favorite bands, Crosby Stills & Nash:

Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With two dogs in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you.

Greg was a kid at heart. He was also a mentor to many and a responsible and curious person who never complained about life's curveballs thrown his way. Simply put, he lived life, loved life, adored family, enjoyed people, and made everyone around him a better person.

Besides Nan, Chelsea, and the yappy dogs, Greg is survived by his sisters, Jo Derryberry (Glenn Derryberry) and Dianne Hile (Jim Hile), a niece, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Greg Stewart, we love you and miss you and we'll have a celebration of your life in Spring 2024 – stay tuned to this dial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Greg's honor to Why it Matters, providing scholarships to kids, teens, and families by giving them the opportunity to be a part of life-changing Y programs.
Link to donate: https://ymcaofmetroatlanta.givingfuel.com/greg-stewart-memorial