Gregory L. North

Gregory Lee North of Wadsworth, Ohio passed away on April 22, 2020.

Greg fought a courageous battle with Leukemia. He was diagnosed with Leukemia in

2013. This past fall, he received a bone marrow transplant and was pronounced cancer

free. On his last hospital stay he was diagnosed with Covid-19, which ultimately took

him from us. He was the youngest person to die of Covid-19 in Medina County to date.

He was born December 9, 1968 in Akron, Ohio. He was raised in Norton, Ohio where he

graduated from Norton High School in 1987, where he wrestled and played football. His

love of all things automotive drove his career selection. He attended Northwestern

Automotive College and began his career in the automotive industry. He was a lead

technician at Star Chevrolet of Tallmadge, where he met the love of his life, Dana, who

he married in 1995. They were blessed with two beautiful children, Megan and Michael.

He went on to manage at several dealerships, including Burt Greenwald, Fred Martin

Chevrolet, Tony Perry Chevrolet and Serpentini of Orville. Eventually he opened his own

business, Auto M.D.’s of Barberton which evolved into S&S Tire of Barberton and Akron.

Greg had many passions including rebuilding old cars, motorcycles, The Andy Griffith

Show, hunting, fishing, wrestling, coaching his kid’s sports, cooking (his paprikash was

legendary), Disney, and telling stories. He loved spending time with family and friends

over a home-cooked meal or at one of his favorite restaurants: Al’s, Tomasso’s, or

Barberton Chicken. Greg always knew the best places to eat.

            Greg was always the one everyone went to if they had a car question. He would go in

the middle of the night to rescue a friend who may be an hour away because their car

was disabled. He was the first one to go to a fundraiser or support someone in need.

He never missed a funeral or calling hours of a friend’s loved one or a friend. He loved

to tease or offer a view from a broader perspective. He loved kids and animals. Even

though he was a big guy with a big beard, kids were always drawn to him. He was a

swim instructor, a baseball coach, softball coach, football coach and a wrestling coach.

Above all he loved his family and friends. He played an amazing Santa Claus for family

and friends. He knew some of the best gifts you can give were homemade. To that end,

every year Greg made Dana her Christmas present and almost always with the help of

his kids.

            What most people don’t know is that he was a very gifted artist. Greg felt like time was

slipping through his fingers. This past fall, he and his mother-in-law designed a tattoo

that he wanted to get. It was of an hourglass. The top portion of the hourglass was filled

with a hand and sand was running through the fingers into the second half of the

hourglass which held a pocket watch. Time is precious. Greg knew that.

One of his best friends said it best, “Greg was just easy to love”. We were all blessed for

the time we had with him, and for the love that he gave us. One of Greg’s mantras was

“North’s Never Quit”. He exemplified that saying until the very end.

Greg is survived by his wife Dana and their two children Megan and Michael, mother

Carolyn Spencer, sister Robin (Danny) Thomas, mother-in-law Chris (John) Dyarmett,

father-in-law Al (Cathy) Rolland, brother-in-law’s Albert (Valerie) Rolland, Sean (Kerri)

Sabolesky, and Kevin (Candy) Rolland; Along with many nieces, nephews, cousins,

aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald North.

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2020 from 4-8 p.m. at the Wadsworth Eagles, 9953 Rittman Rd., Wadsworth, OH 44281. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to their GoFundMe page, https://www.gofundme.com/f/team-north. Some proceeds will start a scholarship in Greg’s name.

I Am Free

Do not grieve for me, for now I am free; I am following the path God laid for me

I took His hand when I heard Him call; I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work, or play.

Tasks undone must stay that way. I have found that peace at the close of the day.

If parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow; I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me--God wanted me now, God set me free.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.