Service for Sobel
By Liz Mineo / Daily News Staff
Sunday, June 26, 2005
SUDBURY -- More than 100 people gathered at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Sudbury to remember the life of Gregory Borowik Sobel, who died May 4 after a long struggle with complications from serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident in 1996.
In a two-hour memorial service, relatives, friends and colleagues of Sobel, 47, of Sudbury, spoke of how he touched their lives with his kindness, generosity, sense of humor and love for justice.
Friends of Sobel recalled his contributions as former director of environmental mediation programs for the Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution, but they mostly spoke of the qualities that made him a beloved human being.
They recalled how Sobel had been committed to social justice since he was a teenager growing in Baltimore. While in high school, Sobel ran a soup kitchen for the homeless for 18 months.
"We were nice teenagers trying to change the world," said Janet Hart, Sobel's high school sweetheart, who helped Sobel run the soup kitchen.
"It was a challenge to run the soup kitchen, but because of Greg's easygoing manner and sense of humor it was easy. I'll always remember him as a great guy who had his feet firmly planted in the clouds."
While attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., in the early 1980s, Sobel was noticed by his social activism, idealistic views, and love for life, recalled David Goldsmith, a college friend.
"He had a tremendous ability to fill a room with hope," said Goldsmith. "He gave us reasons to believe we could change the world. He was a constant activist and he was always determined to see the glass half full....Unlike other great leaders of our time, Greg inhaled in college, but what he inhaled was life and what he exhaled was truly infectious."
Prior to his accident, Sobel was an avid outdoorsman, skilled at whitewater rafting, skiing, hiking and kayaking. His chronic pain and loss of physical mobility didn't diminish his love for life or his kindness toward people.
"He was so busy being there for everybody else," said Andrew Sobel, Sobel's oldest brother. "Greg was an inspiration to many of us."
Sobel also enjoyed the respect and love of his colleagues. Two years ago, he formed with colleagues David Bowling, David Hoffman, Marvin Johnson, and Homer LaRue "The Five Guys Group." On Saturday, four of The Five Guys Group were at the service to pay tribute to Sobel.
"I'm blessed to have had him as a friend," said Johnson of Silver Spring, Md., with teary eyes. "We were together for two years. We were just getting started."