Gregory L. “Greg” Contos, 94 passed peacefully from this life on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at home surrounded by his loving family.
Greg was born on October 18, 1930 in Cambridge, MA, the son of Louis and Mary Conduris Contos who owned and operated the Town Diner of Watertown MA. He graduated from Boston University in 1956 and the Culinary Institute of America in 1959, and was a veteran of the US Coast Guard. Greg was the founder and President of Grace Food Service in Springfield, MA, which is where his love of people and food was so evident. He was active in Pioneer Valley civic life as President of the Springfield Rotary, a Board member of Goodwill Industries, Scoutmaster of Scout Troop 90 in Longmeadow MA, and an dedicated member of First Church of Christ of Longmeadow.
When Greg met his future wife Maria is hard to say as they were neighbors growing up on School Street in Watertown, but it was one fateful day when Greg asked Maria if she would like to drive with him to church, and within a short period of time the two were married. Greg and Maria celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in September 2024.
Greg was the proud father of three children, Luke (Jean) of Plymouth, MI, Mark, of Melbourne, Australia and Elena Hanley (Joe) of Belmont, MA, and was the devoted grandfather of nine grandchildren; Iliana, Christopher, Alexander, Peter, Sebastian, Amanda, Kelsey, Leo, and Gretchen.
Greg and Maria lived in Hingham MA at Linden Ponds, a senior living community, where Greg was well known on the bocci courts and was lovingly referred to as the Mayor of Linden Ponds. Prior to that, they lived in Falmouth MA, where Greg and Maria welcomed family and friends for memorable beachside get togethers, and where Greg volunteered for the Falmouth Hospital and was Chairman of the town’s Beach Committee.
A celebration of life service will be held at Linden Ponds in Hingham, MA at 3 pm on March 22, 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Springfield College in Springfield, MA. A message of condolence may be left at Casper Funeral Services.