William Gordon Gregory

Bill was born on May 9th, 1933, to Herbert and Myrtle Gregory, in Leominster, MA. The second of two children, he grew up in Great Neck, NY, where his parents were both teachers. He graduated from Great Neck North High School and earned both an associate’s degree from SUNY, Farmingdale and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of NH.

He served in the Army, repairing tanks in Germany during the Korean War.

Bill met the love of his life, Martha, and her three children in 1969 while in California for work with Lockheed. Bill and Martha married shortly thereafter and bought a home in Great Neck, where they welcomed two more children and raised their family until 1984, when they moved to Marlborough, NH. In NH, William worked as a mechanical engineer for New Hampshire Ball Bearing. In November, William and Martha celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

Bill’s interests centered on the natural world and all things machines. His hobbies included camping, hiking, rock collecting, fishing, and tinkering with anything mechanical, particularly engines. He was a member of the Long Island Rockhounds mineral club and the Camp-A-Lots camping club. Being a father made him happiest, sharing his love for the outdoors and “the way things work.” Most memorable to those who knew him best are the many bicycles and cars creatively repaired, boats curiously patched, and exceptionally dry dad jokes told.

Bill is survived by his wife, Martha Ann Gregory of Marlborough, and his children, Todd Gregory of Boston, MA; MJo McCarthy and her husband, Ryan, of Wakefield, NH; Michael Martin of Broward, FL; Sharon Carrasco and her husband, Benny, of Port Hueneme, CA; Mark Martin and his wife, Diane, of Manhasset NY; and grandchildren Thomas, William, Christopher, Shawn, Sesha, Jesse, Julia, and Timothy. He is predeceased by his sister, Jean Gregory.

Funeral services will be held privately by the family. A committal service with military honors will be held in the spring in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Marlborough.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 W. Swanzey Rd, Swanzey, NH 03446 (https://monadnockhumanesociety.org/tribute-gifts/).