In Loving Memory of Doctor Gregory W Lester

It is with a sense of sadness, love, and respect that we would like to announce the death of Dr.

Gregory W Lester. Greg, or 'Pa' to his children and 'Papa' to his granddaughter, died in

Burlington, VT, March 5th, 2026 after enthusiastically embracing the Medical Aid in Dying

(MAID) process following a diagnosis of bladder cancer in 2025. Greg died in the manner in

which he lived - on his own terms and sharing the love he had for his family and partner.

As a young child, Greg, his older brother Richard, his younger sister Laura and his baby brother

Garra lived in Niagara Falls, ON. That is where his natural curiosity and love of adventure and

all things outdoors was born: rafting on 'the big ditch,' collecting butterflies and antique bottles,

and running away to the woods every chance he got. You only needed to listen to some of his

stories growing up in the early 1960s and the adventures he had to begin to appreciate the love

for life that Greg had.

Around the age of 10, Greg and family moved to Eden, NY just South of Buffalo. He and

Richard worked on a local farm for several years growing up. Greg, not a huge vegetable eater

as an adult, claims he ate his life's allotment while working on the farm.

As an older teenager and in his early 20s Greg traveled across the country, sometimes by way

of his thumb and sometimes by way of his cars and motorcycles. Regardless of the method he

always made the most out of every stop along the way. Greg had an ease with which he could

strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, at any point in time. No one who knew him had

met anyone with more stories. His curiosity and love of knowledge made him a renaissance

man and led him to a doctorate in geology.

After living in Buffalo and then Syracuse for a period of time, he settled in Madison County, NY.

It is there where he started his family with his partner at the time, Julie. His most cherished and

rewarding memories and sense of fulfillment came from his daughters Becky Hammer-Lester

and Evelyn Hammer-Lester.

After owning his own picture framing shop for a few years, Greg decided to double down on his

interest in geology and in understanding the landscape which gave him the drive to finally

pursue a college degree. Greg eventually completed 2 masters degrees and a PhD in geology.

As part of that experience he got to travel around the United States and to South America and,

after graduating, to Mongolia and Australia. He was ever the student, a student in his chosen

career and a student of life.

Greg never met a stream or creek he didn't like and wasn't willing to bushwack through to find

that perfect trout hole. He spent hours walking along streams and lakes fishing, when Becky

was born he even brought her along in a snuggly where she wreaked havoc, helpfully tangling

his line and losing him fish.

Whether it be spending time with his daughters, roadside geology in Canada or the states,

canoeing and kayaking with his youngest brother, honky-tonking and shooting pool with both

Richard and Garra or listening to and playing the blues on harmonica, Greg always lived life to

the fullest. One of the memories he would often reflect on was an April camping excursion in

Ontario with his brother Garra when a pack of wolves could be heard traipsing through the

campsite and waking up in the morning to have coffee over the still burning birch fire.

Greg's grandparents Walter and Lois Blesy had a huge impact on him throughout his life. They

were individuals who helped to shape the person he became. It is with that sense of family,

love, and caring that he cherished his granddaughter, Sylvia, who brought him a huge amount

of joy and life affirming laughter.

Greg is survived by his parents Garra and Elizabeth Lester, his daughter Becky Hammer-Lester

and her partner Mina, Evelyn Hammer-Lester and her partner David Bassen and their daughter

Sylvia, brothers Richard Lester, Garra Lloyd-Lester, sister Laura Posthuma, Greg's partner

Zabe MacEachern and a number of nieces and nephews, all of whom have fond memories and

stories of their Uncle Greg.

A celebration of Greg's life will take place sometime in the next year or so. In the meantime you

can honor his memory by reading a new book (or re-reading a cherished favorite, he was partial

to "The Count of Monte Cristo"), casting a line in your favorite fishing hole, picking up and

studying a rock (preferably hard rock), listening to your favorite music, striking up a conversation

with someone with earnest curiosity and perhaps most importantly, telling the people in your

lives how much you love them.