Gregory Allen Bair, 64, a beloved husband, devoted father, adoring grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, died March 8, 2017, in OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, after a brief illness.
Gregory was born in 1952, to Eleanor and Edwin Bair. He attended Findlay High School, graduating in 1970. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in special education and master’s degrees in guidance and counseling. He also earned a specialist degree from The University of Toledo Ohio.
Gregory was the former Chief Executive Officer of Wood Lane Residential Services (WLRS) for developmentally disabled in Bowling Green, Ohio. He retired from WLRS and moved to Grove City, Ohio, to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters.
He began his career as a teacher at Wood Lane School, Bowling Green, in 1978, was named director of Residential Services in 1979, and was then promoted to CEO of WLRS in 1999.
During his tenure, WLRS grew to a network of 25 group homes along with a 14-unit apartment complex to house and serve some 150 adults with developmental disabilities in Wood County.
One of the homes was dedicated and named in his honor — Greg Bair Home — in June 2008. Throughout his WLRS career, Gregory was instrumental in developing community acceptance as people with developmental disabilities were moving from institutions to more community-based living options.
Gregory was a founding member of the Values and Faith Alliance, an association of nine member organizations dedicated to educating the community and offering a voice to shape a values-driven public policy on the future of services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was affiliated with the boards of the Disability Housing Network, Ohio Association of County Boards, Bowling Green Rotary Club, and served on the board of the WoodCo Federal Credit Union.
He assisted in the founding of the Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities collaboration in Wood County to serve those who had developmental disabilities as well as mental health diagnoses.
Gregory was an adjunct instructor in special education at Bowling Green State University from 1999 to 2009. While at WLRS and after retirement, he served as a surveyor for Employment and Community Services cadre for CARF International, assessing organizations across the nation who served those with disabilities, mental illness, the homeless and under/unemployed veterans. He also surveyed programs for early intervention, child and youth, adult and behavioral services.
Gregory married the love of his life, Angela Stombaugh in 1977. They had one perfect daughter, Allyson (Bair) Rauck.
Gregory reveled in family time with his wife and daughter and, more recently, took enormous pleasure in time with his granddaughters. He had a relentlessly inquisitive nature, leading to a life as an avid reader and seeker of knowledge on a wide range of topics, especially philosophy and how to live morally and ethically. He used that knowledge in his day-to-day life as well as in many beloved philosophical discussions with his seminar buddies. He loved being outdoors walking his dog in Wintergarden Park or on his bicycle riding the Slippery Elm Trail with his wife, son-in-law and daughter, pulling his granddaughters on a weehoo or buggy. He enjoyed taking many longer adventure bicycle trips with his wife and friends in Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida Keys and Ohio. He also enjoyed his “big boy toys” as a motorcyclist and car enthusiast. When the weather wasn’t conducive to being outdoors, he mastered the art of stained glass and produced lovely window panes, lamps and more.
Gregory was a consummate Ohio State football fan and loved traveling and adventure. He radiated warmth, humor and wit and was quick to compliment others. “Sugar Bear” will be long-remembered for his hearty laugh, “Bair” hugs and genuine, selfless love of his family and friends.
Gregory devoted his life to advocacy for individuals’ rights, regardless of their abilities, and that was demonstrated in his chosen profession as well as how he lived every day. He was a man of great integrity and ethics, unwavering in that commitment in his professional and personal life. He loved life, often saying that it was “too short” so it was important to remember “Life is about the journey, not the destination.” He would proudly say that he accomplished everything on his bucket list.
People can honor his memory by being an advocate for others and the best person they can be. Survivors include his wife, Angela; a daughter Allyson (Bair) Rauck; son-in-law Jim Rauck; granddaughters Ella & Charlotte; two sisters Linda (Bair) Miller, Cheryl (Bair) Lanham; and numerous numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and countless friends.
A celebration of Gregory’s life well lived will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be sent to: *WLRS Greg Bair Memorial Fund, 545 Pearl St., Bowling Green, OH 43402.
*Friends of Wood County Parks/Greg Bair Memorial Fund, 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
*Bowling Green Parks and Rec Foundation/Greg Bair Fund/Wintergarden, 1291 Conneaut Ave, Bowling Green OH, 43402.
Take care and be good, gb. We love you.
