Gregory Getty Obituary

Gregory Leland Getty

Gregory Getty, 76, passed away suddenly on February 21, 2025. Greg was born in Chicago, IL, in the Old Town neighborhood, on February 20, 1949. He is survived by his loving partner of 45 years, Kathy Handley. Greg was the second oldest of five children, and will be forever cherished and remembered by his siblings, Joseph C. (Karen), James E. (Mary), Jean Marie (Steven) Klein, and John K. (Katie). Greg was predeceased by his father, Joseph A. Getty, and his mother, Doris M. Getty. His memory lives on with his loving nephews, Jason, Alex, Kyle, Neil, and Charles. He also leaves behind many fond cousins.

Greg served four years in the Navy, during which time he became a petty officer, third class. His years in the Navy brought him to the east coast, where he was stationed in Newport, R.I.; after the Navy, he relocated to Boston. Having been an extraordinarily talented and prolific artist virtually all his life, he completed his bachelor's degree in art education from Massachusetts College of Art and continued to live and create art for several more years in the Boston area. During this time, in the 1970s, three of his siblings also called Boston home for a few years, creating a coterie of east coast Gettys. Greg returned home to Chicago in 1979, where he went on painting his numerous abstract landscapes and cityscapes, while also working as a chef, caterer, and manager of dining services at Sunrise of Naperville. He greatly enjoyed sketching outdoors, in places such as the forest preserves, which was the inspiration for a great many forest and river scenes in his paintings, all of which received the trademark Greg Getty abstraction treatment.

The lucky recipients of Greg's generosity were his siblings and friends, whom he gifted with many of his beautiful paintings, as well as his homemade Christmas goodies and other manifestations of his impressive cooking talent. He was a very kind and unassuming man. We will all deeply miss his uncommon sense of humor and his love for his family and friends.

A memorial service for Greg will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 11 a.m., at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL 60421.