Amherst , MA – Gregory M. Schwartz passed away on January 24, 2026. He was born in New Haven CT on June 21, 1956, and grew up in Hamden CT, where he first learned to ride a bike. The family moved to Amherst MA in 1970, where he served as a Fuller Brush Man and began a life long relationship with his ARHS classmate, Nancy Smith. After graduating from Macalester College in 1978 he and Nancy made their way back to Holyoke MA to start a business and a family.
In 1981, Greg founded Mt Tom Roses in Smith’s Ferry on the banks of the CT River. The wholesale grower served florists in the Pioneer Valley. He and Nancy were married soon after and later gave birth to two children, Ben and Leah. The family enjoyed many hours on their Boston Whaler, Greg often skiing slalom off the back, having learned in the chop of the Long Island Sound as a kid. In 1992 the family moved to Amherst and Greg often continued to commute to the greenhouse on his bicycle.
Greg went on to a build a second greenhouse, expanding production and employing dozens of people over the years. But as the influx of foreign imports made rose growing challenging in New England, he closed the business in 2001 and obtained his MEd at UMass, ultimately teaching 7th grade social studies in Greenfield MA.
However, social studies did not satisfy Greg’s enterprising spirit, and he taught small business management as an adjunct at STCC. Soon thereafter he joined Solutions CDC in Holyoke as a youth programming coordinator and was later named executive director, fully enabling him to share his enthusiasm for hard work and ambition with the young members of the nonprofit’s entrepreneurial training initiatives.
In October 2007, Greg survived a life-altering stroke. With the endless support of his wife, Greg managed to give back to the community despite his limited mobility, serving on the boards of the Valley Opportunity Council and All Out Adventures. He enjoyed wild goose chases, considering multi-million dollar real estate opportunities, and time spent with his grandsons. The family would like to thank the countless individuals that supported him during this stage of his life, particularly Patrick Schilling and Ryan Lewis. Leah and Ben wish to thank their mom for her commitment to their father’s care, as well as her incredible patience and generosity throughout the years following his stroke.
Greg was predeceased by his parents, Daniel and Patricia, and his brother Peter. Also Tippy, GB, Django, Waldo, Zoe, Copper, Coozie and Missy.
He is survived by wife Nancy, son Ben (Amber), daughter Leah Martinelli (Derek), and grandsons Marcus and Jacob. Also brother Stephen (Annie), sister Nora Schwartz-Martin MD (Frank), cousin Robert Schwartz, and extended family. He is survived by countless wakes in the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, Bruce Springsteen ticket stubs, and memories of the redness of his roses. Picture him pedaling over his Coolidge Bridge in the early sun, the open windows while driving his daughter to his Alma mater, or the snowy windshield on his way to buy his son his first guitar. Remember him meeting Nancy in front of Hasting’s to see Cat Ballou, their modest wedding and breakfast that followed at Jake’s. The fading roughness of his hands, the scent of charred bagels, and Scorsese movies when mom was out of town. The saltwater in his long hair and red bandana under the boon. Hiking Bare Mountain with his little girl, and her sons ascending his wheelchair. He is survived by an excess of elbow grease, by kind reminiscences and faded photographs, and he is survived by Caboose.
Memorial donations may be made to All Out Adventures, 297 Pleasant St., Northampton MA 01060
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