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Memorial Keepers(3)
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Garth Larsen Gregory
December 4th, 1941 - September 5th, 2026
December 4th, 1941 - September 5th, 2026
Garth Gregory, 1941–2026
Garth Gregory, a longtime Chico physician, devoted father and husband, accomplished bridge player, golfer, and traveler, a man of keen humor, curiosity, and uncommon integrity, died on the 5th of September at the age of 84 from an unexpected and rapidly progressing case of Cruetzfeldt-Jacob Disease.
Garth was born in Delaware in 1941 to Rosemary Larsen and Stanley Gregory, who met as students at Oregon State University. The oldest of three children, he grew up in Longview, Washington, a small lumber town near the Columbia River, with his younger sisters, Sharon and Gwyneth.
From an early age, Garth excelled academically and had a wonderfully wide range of interests. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1964, Harvard Medical School in 1968, completed an internship year at the USC Medical Center - Los Angeles County Hospital, and then went into his residency at the Cornell Hospital in New York City. Following his medical training, Garth entered the U.S. Army, where he served as Chief of Radiology at the Army hospital in Berlin, Germany.
In 1976, Garth settled in Chico, where he built a long and successful career as a radiologist at North State Radiology, retiring in 2016. He made Chico his home for the remainder of his life.
In 1980, Garth married Susan Weimer, and together they had two daughters, Alissa and Lauren. Although the marriage ended in 1989, Garth's devotion to his daughters never wavered. He felt a deep responsibility to being a positive influence in his children’s lives, and being a father remained one of the central commitments of his life.
In 1998, Garth married Valerie Lindquist and welcomed her son, Cody, into his life and embraced Cody as the son he never had. Garth and Valerie created a beautiful life together with a shared love of travel, golf, and social connections. Garth described Valerie as bringing a wonderful new dimension of love and support to his life.
Garth had a curious and enthusiastic mind and an interest in engaging with people from all walks of life. A lifelong traveler, he explored extensively both on his own and later with Valerie, culminating in a shared achievement of visiting all seven continents. He enjoyed playing sports, including basketball and squash, and remained an avid golfer until the end. Perhaps his most extraordinary competitive accomplishment came at the bridge table. A gifted and dedicated duplicate bridge player, Garth achieved the rare distinction of becoming an American Contract Bridge League Platinum Life Master (one of 315 in the United States), earning a total of 10,769 master points.
Those who knew Garth will remember his playful sense of humor, broad smile, humility, kindness, formidable intelligence, work ethic, generosity, and the mischievous twinkle in his bright blue eyes.
Garth is survived by his wife, Valerie Gregory; daughters, Alissa and Lauren Gregory; stepson, Cody Lindquist; sisters, Sharon Falk and Gwyneth Stephenson; son-in-law, Faustin Carter; and granddaughter, Eleanor Carter.
You are invited to attend Garth’s Celebration of Life at Butte Creek Country Club, 175 Estates Drive, Chico CA 95928, on Sunday, October 4th, at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Garth’s name to one of the following organizations (you can use the links typed here, or the "donate" buttons posted below on this webpage):
1) To support Junior Golf through the Ed Anderson Tee to Green Charitable Fund in care of North Valley Community Foundation, please visit the following website:
https://www.nvcf.org/funds/ed-anderson-“tee-to-green”-charitable-fund
2) To support the research of Cruetzfeldt-Jacob Disease via the National Prion Disease Surveillance Center, please visit the following website:
** Note: For those who are unable to attend the service but are interested in viewing a video recording of the service, to be sent at some point after the service, please email me (Alissa) with your email address and I will be able to send it to you:
Email: alissa@alissagregory.com
Events
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Tributes
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Dee Maes
Garth could be a demanding Radiologist for us technologists, but I found a great way to get on his good side at the start of our workdays. Knowing his love for golf, I got prepared the night before by asking my husband for the highlights of the recent PGA tournament. So, I began greeting Garth with statements like, “How about Mickelson’s 15 foot birdie putt on the 8th?” That opened the door for a sunny day! He truly was the life of the parties we attended through the years. He will be so missed by everyone.
DOUG K
ADDED PHOTOS FORGOTTEN EARLIER BY DOUG KORTEN
James Westcott
Unfortunately I will be out of town for Garth’s memorial. I wanted to share some of the many great memories I have with Garth starting back in 1981 when I first met him. We played racketball and basketball. But I golfed with him the most. The first time I played Butte Creek CC was from his invitation. In those days, my office was next door to Community Hospital. He was part of a great radiology group that I could rely on for help and for a good laugh. We had good times back then. I am saddened to hear about the struggle he had at the end. I know it was a difficult time to witness this. I have enclosed a few pictures that bring back memories of a good friend, neighbor and colleague.
DOUG KORTEN
I just found another couple of photos for posting with that of Doug Korten previously posted, so: In the original first photo posting, two photos posted are; 1.) the R. A Long Marching Band and 2.) the members of the RAL Band who were able to go to the summer music camp at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, both taken in the mid-1950's. In the Band photo (#1), Garth is in the 4th row, top, and is third from the left; I am in the 3rd row center at the bottom left of the first tuba on the right. In photo 2.) of the Music Camp, I am first from the left and Garth is second from the left. In this second photo posting, 1.) is the same photo as number 2.) in the original posting above when it appeared in a mid-1950’s Longview Daily News printing. This photo lists the names of the individuals in both photos. I am first from the left and Garth is second from the left; and 2.), well that is pretty much obvious: we two at out 65th HS Reunion. Our wives were with us again, and again, wondering why. We all had a fabulous time! Again, goodbye my friend; the memories will last. Doug
DOUG KORTEN
I was surprised to learn Garth was born in Delaware and not in Longview, WA, as I was, as we have been such close friends for most of my life. In those days, Longview was a close-knit, small town where it seemed everyone knew everyone. It was truly wonderful, a perfect place to grow up. I cannot remember exactly how or when Garth and I met, it was so long ago. He is one of my oldest and closest friends, even though we were separated by many miles during adulthood. Our first meeting could have been in church or Sunday school or somewhere prior to our entry into seventh grade at Monticello Junior High School where we were both members of the band. During the three band years Garth and I spent at Monticello, the band became a part of the R A Long High School Marching Band with uniforms and all, competing in band competitions all over Washington and parts of Oregon. The Band placed very well with many first and some second place awards, playing a lot of John Philip Sousa’s marching pieces, all due to the very strict direction of Mr. Calvin Storey, whom we all feared but loved. It was a wonderful, wonderful time and experience!! The band years were the best of the best and formed life-long friendships, as happened with Garth and me. I remember monthly challenges to determine what chair you occupied - first, second, third, etc., first being the best of the players, and soloist when called upon. Garth was nearly always in first chair and was uniquely good on his clarinet, whereas I made first chair with my trombone once or twice but normally occupied second or third. During the band years, and in the heat of the summer, we both attended a week or two of music camp at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. where we bunked together. One can only imagine what a time that was for a couple of thirteen-year-olds. Somewhere around 1955 or 56, Longview added another high school and named it Mark Morris High School. Unfortunately for me, the dividing line separating where we went, was the alley just behind my house. So, while I was directed to Mark Morris, Garth was lucky enough to attend R A Long High, as did my father many years before him. The band at Mark Morris just wasn’t the same without Cal Storey directing and ended my school band career, although I did join the pep band and played at games between Mark Morris and R A Long, where Garth and I enjoyed a half-baked rivalry and continued our friendship. While Garth established himself as a radiologist in Chico, CA, I became an attorney and settled in San Jose. We stayed in contact throughout the many passing years via phone, emails and some personal events. We also attended nearly every class reunion, jointly held by Mark Morris and R A Long High Schools every five years, where we had a great time catching up and reminiscing (while our wives made the best of it). In fact, over those many years of attending these events, our wives nearly became actual classmates! I know this is a little long, but when starting to write these words of past memories, they just flowed and flowed. So many wonderful recollections, many of which were left out, but all of which brought a warmth to my heart and tears to my eyes. I have relied on Garth’s friendship all these years and will, and do, truly miss him. With great love and affection, good-bye my friend, Doug Korten
Mark Bloom
I played bridge with Garth three times a month at the local club, sometimes more if we both had an open date, sometimes less if he was on one of his great trips. His passing still feels unreal to me--surely Garth is on another trip somewhere and will show up at the club before long? I was his most junior partner, and I can't tell you how much he taught me about the game. His bridge was a thing of beauty: very clean and straightforward, well-reasoned and amazingly consistent; he almost never lost focus, which in bridge is incredibly difficult. It feels like a cruel joke to have someone with a superb brain like Garth's contract a disease of the brain; I thought I'd be playing with Garth into his 90's with little loss of skill (him, I mean--no guarantees for me). Garth had very high standards in bridge--he was always looking to play the perfect game. As a mentee of his I had plenty of chances to be pinned in his very direct stare as he explained what I'd done wrong. I used to joke that unlike most bridge players Garth and I were the only two who didn't think they were better than they really were--Garth because he was humble about his bridge ability, and me because I played with Garth so I got to hear about all of my mistakes! One thing I will take credit for is working with Garth to help him improve as a partner. Over the years and through the course of many emails (I know I have the record for dropping the most F-bombs to Garth by email) I saw Garth's behavior at the bridge table change noticeably, to where he mellowed and gave his partners more space to play with a clear head. Garth knew this was a weak point of his game (the only, really) and worked hard to improve as a partner. Full credit to someone at Garth's age to be willing, and able, to make a big change in behavior. Although most of our time together was spent talking about bridge I do know how important his family was to Garth, and how happy they made him. Garth had a life full of family, travel, friends and, of course, golf! Garth's passing leaves a big hole in the local bridge club and my own bridge game, but those are small things compared to his family's loss. My heart goes out to Valerie and all of the family. I can't be there at the celebration as I'm committed to play in a bridge tournament and don't want to let my teammates down--I think (hope?) that Garth would understand. Garth is, and will be, often in my thoughts, especially at the bridge table.
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