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Gregory's obituary

Greg was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Dorothy Green Gowdy and John Wellington Gowdy. In high school, he collected comic books, read hundreds of books, played the cello, and swam competitively. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his undergrad studies in Boston. While in school, he was a member of the Burton third Bombers and a founding member of an annual gathering called DTYD. In 1969, he married the love of his life, Donna Duffy, at the MIT chapel. He graduated in 1970 with 2 degrees, one in Chemistry and one in Physics. Greg and Donna moved to Lexington, Ky. He attended the University of Kentucky for 2 years before transferring to the doctoral program at Georgia Tech. During his time in Atlanta. He and Donna had their only child, Krystyn. He graduated in 1976 from Georgia Tech with a doctorate Nuclear Chemistry. After graduating, the family moved to Tennessee, where he started his post-doc work at Oak Ridge Labs . In 1977, Greg and his family moved to Europe while he continued his post-doc work doing research, which he loved. While in Europe, he worked in Germany and France and attended conferences in numerous other countries. He returned to the States in 1979 to continue his research at Brookhaven National Labratories on Long Island in New York. In 1982, he got a job at VC Summer Nuclear Power Plant and moved his family to Columbia, SC. Greg was a Plant Senior Health Physicist at the plant until he retired in 2018. Greg was a wonderful person to be around and always saw the best in everyone that he met. He was one of the smartest men in any room he entered, although he would never make it known. His love of learning was evident to all who knew him. The way he talked about any subject conveyed this love even if the person listening did not share in his interest. He had a variety of interests. He enjoyed science fiction, I think he read every book there was. Not only did he read them, but he also knew everything there was to know about the worlds they introduced and could quote from them, too. The only thing he loved more was his family. He was a loving husband and father. He often enjoyed traveling with Donna. , spending time with friends and family, watching football and basketball, golfing, volunteering for Destination Imagination Competitions, extended family weekly dinners, collecting coins, and geneology. He and Donna moved to Minnesota to be near their daughter and her family in 2020. He passed away on Thursday, January 26th, 2023. His love and humor will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Donna Duffy Gowdy; his daughter, Krystyn Gowdy Kono; son-in-law, Shannon James Kono; grandson, Dylan James Kono; and grandson, Brandon Andrew Kono.

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Helping hands

In lieu of flowers

Please consider a gift to Dementia Society of America or Brain Research Foundation.
$100.00
Raised by 1 person

Recent contributions

$100.00
Phyllis Green
Gave to Dementia Society of America in memory of Gregory
See all contributionsRight arrow

Recent contributions

$100.00
Phyllis Green
Gave to Dementia Society of America in memory of Gregory
See all contributionsRight arrow

Memories & condolences

Just learned of Greg’s passing.  Great guy.  Enjoyed working together at VCS.  He is missed.  Love to Donna and rest of…
Just learned of Greg’s passing.  Great guy.  Enjoyed working together at VCS.  He is missed.  Love …
Just learned of Greg’s passing.  Great guy.  Enjoyed working tog…

My earliest recollection of Greg was at my grandfather's funeral in the early 60's. I must have been 5 or 6 and my olde…

My earliest recollection of Greg was at my grandfather's funeral in the early 60's. I must have bee…

My earliest recollection of Greg was at my grandfather's funeral…

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Dr. Gregory Gowdy