Obituary of Gregory A. List

Gregory Alan List was born June 9, 1948. He was the first of four children of Norbert Edwin from Bay City, MI and Barbara (nee Kane) List from Niles, MI. Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Greg moved eventually to Farmington Hills, MI where as a young man he grew increasingly independent with help from family and community. Born with cognitive challenges from cerebral palsy, Greg was appreciated and looked out after by many neighbors as he went on his walks to Farmington Hills Public Library and lunch at Hercules Restaurant. Greg attended church regularly with his mother at St. Fabian Catholic Church.

Those who knew Greg were always impressed at the varied interests he developed, and the copious notes and illustrations he would generate from the reference books scattered around him at the library. His interests included: Trains, Lighthouses, Farming, Weather/Temperature, Cider/Maple Syrup-making and Wildlife in general but particularly Penguins and the Arctic. He could name all the Presidents, their terms, their wives and their Vice Presidents. His love for horses began as a child at his grandfather’s apple farm in Niles, where he was lovingly given the nickname “Bucky ol’ Boy.” Later, he enjoyed taking care of horses (and llamas) at Camp Fowler in Mayville, Michigan, giving them food and water (and a brief brushing). He would attend Camp Fowler, designed for individuals with special needs for more than 50 years, becoming a most popular camper and enjoyed a penchant for kilns and pottery-making. As an older adult, though physically deteriorating at a rapid pace, Greg was able to take advantage of the California lifestyle he was in and took horse-back riding lessons, riding a horse on his own.

Before his “retirement” to California, living with his sister and her family, Greg worked at New Horizons in Novi, Michigan where he cherished his job, the staff and fellow clients. He was charged with custodial work but could often be found chitchatting in the front-office. Nonetheless, Greg was greatly valued by New Horizons and received several awards and recommendations. When Greg was not at New Horizons or at the Library, he was at home where he knew dinner (and dessert) would be ready by his adoring mother at 5:00 p.m. He often looked to his mother for affirmation which seemed to keep all in check, but easily transitioned to under his sister’s care after his mother’s death in 2000.  

Love for Greg went beyond his immediate family and his home and work, but with extended family and friends in far-off places including: Niles, MI; Bay City, MI; Florida; Maryland; Pennsylvania; New Jersey; New York; Boston; and Los Angeles. Early family trips planned by his brother Brad specially catered to Greg’s interests included Colorado; Kentucky; the Smokey Mountains and Washington D.C. Greg would later continue his travels with his sister’s family later in life, including trips to Mackinac Island; New York City; Philadelphia; Boston; Chicago; Toronto and Pasadena California to see his beloved Michigan Wolverines play in the Rose Bowl. Frequent annual trips to northern Michigan included Frankfort, Crystal Mountain, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the Pointe Betsie Lighthouse and more locally, seasonal jaunts to Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill and the Big House in Ann Arbor.

Greg is pre-deceased by his mother, father and his brother, Mark. He is survived by his Aunt Phyllis Kane, his brother Brad (Diane) List and his sister Diane (Dro) Abrahamian. He will be remembered dearly by his nephews: James List, David List, Brian (Ashley) List, Kevin (Katie) List, Jonathan List, Peter Abrahamian, Michael Abrahamian and his niece Ani Abrahamian who all will miss his traditional reading of Christ’s Nativity this Christmas and all the Christmases to come. God Bless his soul.