San Diego, CA – Gregory John Savas, 45, was born in Worcester, MA, in the middle of a rare May snowstorm the youngest of three brothers.
Greg attended Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, MA, graduating in 1995. He was a percussionist in middle school and high school ensembles and achieved excellence on piano. He and some friends formed a barbershop quartet that performed at several school events. Greg was an honor student and Vice President of the National Honor Society. He was Co-captain of the Cross-Country team. He may not have been the top racer, but he certainly led the team in spirit and style.
His quick wit, sense of humor, intelligence, and engaging personality easily drew others to his friendship, affection, and leadership.
Greg progressed within the ranks of scouting from Cub Scouts to Life Scout, learning and adopting life skills and sportsmanship. The ethics of loyalty and honor were instilled in him not only through Scouting but also through his Greek heritage and his Orthodox faith.
He was an integral member of the VEVA Hellenic Dance Ensemble, particularly leading the Mihanikos and Pentozali dances with precision and grace.
Memories endure. When he was young, he loved to play with Transformers. His favorite was “Grimlokk”, the robot that turned into a Tyrannosaurus Rex. (In adulthood it became his online identity.) We remember his nicknames of “Gri” and “Goon”, his beloved cats Pickles and Bash, learning Greek as a fun challenge with his Yiayia Nike, Odyssey of the Mind, Harry’s, his “blonde squad”, being runner-up as Mr. Algonquin, “Yiasou Paitushka”, “Caterer”, the Patriots, and his crazy hairstyles.
He developed a passion for bands like Nirvana, Tool, A Perfect Circle, The Melvins, and Failure. He loved going to band concerts. Lollapalooza was a favorite experience.
Greg turned the Hyundai Excel handed down from his brother Mike into the “Box”. Fellow drivers probably remember his legendary car traveling down Route 9 in a stream of brown exhaust. He shared many fun adventures with his family, including the Skyward cruise, Cabo San Lucas, Hilton Head, Fire Island, Montreal, Hershey Park, Cape Canaveral, Greece, and of course the infamous trip on the Windjammer Legacy in the Caribbean.
From early on he showed a love for space exploration. His proudest accomplishment was being accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, part of a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot and navigating the first mission to Mars. Exiting his high school graduation ceremonies, he immediately went to his car, took out his beloved skateboard from the trunk, and sold it in symbolic preparation for the next adventure of his life and the fulfillment of his dreams.
Returning to Northborough, Greg became part of the “Door 10 Pickup” crew at Spag’s. He pursued a degree in sound production while living in Massachusetts, continuing in California. A quick learner, he was again among the leaders of his class and concurrently gained employment in the field.
Unfortunately, Greg’s story will always be incomplete. He succumbed to substance abuse disease. On April 19, 2023 in San Diego, he overdosed and passed away.
Greg will forever be remembered for his mischievous smile, quick wit, dazzling charm, and kindness. Full of LIFE….We hope his story is a lesson, and his spirit his legacy.
He is survived by his parents Dr. Athan and Irene (Economos) Savas of Marlborough, MA. Forever remembered by his brothers Michael Savas, Andrew Savas and his wife Aransas, his nieces Savannah and Derby, his aunt and uncle Aphrodite and John Marinake, and cousins Nicole and Peter Marinake. He was predeceased by his grandparents Nicholas and Ermioni Savas of Brockton, MA, and Nicholas and Theonike Economos of Cranston, RI.
His funeral is Friday, April 28th with a service at 10:00 a.m. in Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, 9 Central Street, Marlborough (please go directly to church). Burial will follow in Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough. Calling hours are Thursday, April 27th from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations to be made to an organization that helps people overcome substance abuse disease, or to a favored organization of one’s choice.
