Obituary of Gregory Brown Nokes
We have lost our wordsmith, so we will attempt to present his life in the way he would like it to be written.
Gregory Brown Nokes passed away on the morning of June 27, 2024, surrounded by the love of his family after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Hartford, Connecticut on September 4, 1951, to Richard and Jean (Clark) Nokes and grew up primarily in West Hartford. He graduated from Conard High School in 1969 and went on to attend The University of Vermont where he received a BS in Management and married his beautiful wife, Judy. After a stint in the GE Financial Management Program and in the business world, Greg decided to pursue a law degree at The University of Connecticut. At UCONN he was an editor for The Connecticut Law Review. After graduating in 1980, with honors, he joined Cummings & Lockwood where he became Partner, was the Chair of their labor, employment and benefits group, and served as a member of the firm’s management committee and as a principal member of its human resources team. He continued in similar roles after the merger with McCarter & English in 2003.
In 2007, Greg became Vice President, Human Resources/Counsel at Middlesex Health System where he was responsible for all aspects of the human resources program. Greg retired in early 2018 from this role but continued on as an Executive Advisor.
Greg was a very active member of the communities where he lived and worked. After law school, the family moved to Trumbull, CT where he was president of the Trumbull Exchange Club, junior warden and vestry member of Grace Episcopal Church, and was active in his children’s activities, including boy scouts and marching band. Upon moving to Glastonbury, CT, Greg became active in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and was a member of the choir and served on the vestry.
In Greg’s personal life he had many interests and hobbies. He had a passion for music which started with playing the French horn at an early age, an activity he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He was a proud attendee of Woodstock, and music of almost all genres was often heard in his home. Greg had a great love for nature, including all that grew from the wild or from the Fedco catalog seeds that he planted, extending to the birds in the sky and the stars in the universe. He had a sweet spot for his many pets, especially his favorite dog and cat, Ebony and Bandit. Greg enjoyed cooking and was well known for his Sunday morning pancakes, always blessing Ebony with her own special pancake. He was a creative woodworker, from doll and bird houses to coffee tables and benches, finishing his last project shortly before his death. Greg was very active, indoors and out, and enjoyed biking, kayaking, and using his rowing machine. Later in life he enjoyed riding his two motorcycles with friends on long country roads. When Greg and Judy finally found a farm to buy in Tunbridge, VT, he was able to put his amateur farming skills to work, tending to the flowers and plants over the next 15 years.
Greg was so many things to so many people – a father, grandfather, husband, friend, role model and advisor. He is survived by his wife Judy; his son Keith and his wife Núria of Arlington, MA; his daughter Rachael and her husband Ed of Reading, MA; his grandchildren, Antonio, Liam, Blake, and Mireia; and his brothers, Jeff and his wife Janet of Edison, NJ and David and his wife Sue of Cromwell, CT.
Greg will be remembered for his attention to every detail, beautiful smile and blue eyes.
To commemorate Greg’s life, please consider making a donation to:
Protectors of Animals (https://poainc.org/donate/)
A service in Greg’s memory will be held in the fall.
For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.