Gregory N. Thomas – 50th Reunion Essay

Gregory N. Thomas

18 Rosecrown | PO Box 4030

Avon, CO 81620

gregorythomas@outlook.com

617-283-7669

Spouse(s): Barbara “Ripley” Thomas

Child(ren): Katie Marsh (1981), Tucker Thomas (2001)

Grandchild(ren): Mia Marsh (2015), Lily Marsh (2017)

Education: Yale BA 1969; Univ. of Chicago MBA 1972

College: Davenport

Personal over the past 50 years: I have a wonderful wife, two great kids, one outstanding son-in-law, two gorgeous granddaughters, a first-class Labrador retriever, a sister with whom I am close, and a father-in-law who has become my best friend. I’m enormously proud of each of them and love them all. In differing ways, each is a friend, companion, and trusted confidant. After 50 years of adulthood with all of life’s twists and turns, I’ve learned that there is nothing more important than family and my family consumes a great portion of my daily life.

Work over the past 50 years: I left Yale like a sprinter out of the blocks, impatiently leaping over one professional hurdle after another. Gradually, however, I realized that each hurdle cleared had become less satisfying than the last. So, in the early 1990s, I retired, moved my family to Aspen, bought a run-down apartment complex on a beautiful stretch of river frontage, became a “gentleman” carpenter, and with practice, eventually became a real carpenter. Day by day, I’d gut, renovate, and re-rent the units. A number of similar projects followed. This, I found, was satisfying work. Apparently, building things was my passion and I was lucky to have figured it out. Since that realization, I have helped others start and build their businesses and, in 2001, founded my own investment firm to serve my family and a few friends. I had no ambition to grow, but substantial growth happened nevertheless. I sold this business a few years ago and stayed on for a while, but now my role is winding down. With time on my hands, I’d love to go back to carpentry, but realize that it is a younger man’s game. Nevertheless, my passion to build things remains and I plan to start something new, sometime soon.

Reflections on Yale: I have very fond memories of my years at Yale, though they come with some regret. I did not begin to scratch the surface of the experiences I could have had, the things I could have learned, and the deeper and more-enduring friendships I could have made. I would love to have a retake on those four years. This time, I would make the best of them.