Civic Leader, Friend and Father

Age 73, of Boston, died peacefully on July 31st, with his beloved wife, Betsy, by his side. The son of Jesús (Jess) Nazario Torres and Josephine (Kilgallon)

Torres, Greg was born on September 29, 1949, in New Rochelle, New

York. He described his boyhood as “idyllic”, his days filled with visits to the local library, horseback riding at the Salesian boys camp, and most memorable, a family trip by train to Florida.

At St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, PA, Greg discovered his talent for theater. He was cast as the lead in

Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. So memorable was that experience that throughout his life, Greg could recite the lines with uncommon precision. Backstage, he worked as a tech, which turned into good fortune when he was called upon to operate lights for Sly and the Family Stone’s campus concert. At college, he expanded his group of friends which already included high school pals,

Jerry Fagan and Diane Pell, to include Paul Grazda who introduced him to much of his favorite music. A devoted Deadhead, Greg attended many shows and always had the Grateful Dead channel playing during road trips. The activism of the late sixties and the freespirited nature of the decade inspired Greg to actively oppose the war in Vietnam and to explore the country and Europe with a pack on his back and an extended hand for hitchhiking.

Upon graduation, Greg planned to “move to Cape Cod to write” but instead found himself as the resident cook at a halfway house in Cambridge. That was the beginning of a career – and a life – devoted to helping some of the most vulnerable people in our communities live with dignity. Working with incarcerated young men at the Department of Youth Services Andros facility, Greg discovered two passions that would prove enduring - his commitment to criminal justice reform and the love he found in the woman who would become his wife, Betsy Pattullo. Staunch advocates for criminal justice reform and de-institutionalization, their first date involved taking three young, incarcerated men on a pass for a homecooked dinner at Betsy’s apartment. Unfortunately, the young men noted that Greg and Betsy couldn’t take their eyes off each other and took the opportunity to flee. Fortunately, Greg was able to convince the guys to return before the sun came up.

Both Greg and Betsy shared a sense of adventure. In 1974, they moved to the Spanish island of Menorca where they would live for two years. Greg tended bar in the pueblo casino and worked as a chef in two restaurants, expanding his repertoire of dishes to include gambas al ajillo, bisconde, paella, caldereta. On Menorca, Greg met his lifelong friends Juan and Antonia whom he would travel to visit many times and who in later years made memorable visits to Boston.

But it was back in Boston where

Greg made his greatest professional contributions. Greg was instrumental in developing community-based programs for adolescents with his work at the Massachusetts Committee on Criminal Justice with his great friend and mentor The Honorable Patricia McGovern. As Assistant Secretary for Criminal Justice under Governor Michael Dukakis, he led reform efforts in the adult correctional system as well. From 1984-1992 Greg served as Chief of Staff to the Massachusetts State Senate Committee on Ways and Means. He was very proud to serve under the first woman to chair the Ways and Means Committee, Senator Pat McGovern. In 1992 Greg joined the Mentor Network as Senior Vice President, having served as a founding board member in 1980. Assuming the role of President and CEO from 1996-2005, Greg led the growth of MENTOR from a regional company providing services primarily to children into a national organization serving people of all ages in a wide variety of settings. From 2007-2018, he was President of MassINC and Publisher of Commonwealth Magazine. Greg was especially proud of helping to lead a coalition of advocates and policymakers in efforts to reform the Massachusetts criminal justice system and address the tragedy of mass incarceration.

Greg was active in several nonprofit organizations whose missions were his own, including ROCA, inc., Everyday Boston, and The New Bedford Light. Greg loved to mentor younger colleagues, and many became close friends. He loved to listen to the stories of friends and colleagues and share his own in turn. Greg was a great storyteller. On the screened porch or dining room at his home on the Slocum River in South Dartmouth, at his many neighborhood spots in the South End, or at his beloved La Brasa he would regale his guests with tales of business battles in the private sector or policy fights at the State House, of being arrested for hitchhiking in Kansas just after the Kent State riots, late nights in Manhattan’s Little Italy in the 60’s, and cliff diving on Menorca.

While taking great satisfaction in his professional achievements, Greg considered his family his greatest accomplishment and deepest pleasure. Greg and Betsy were married in Cambridge, MA on December 6, 1980 and welcomed two children over the years: Jess Manolo Torres was born March 20, 1982, and Gabriel (Gabe) Paul Torres was born May 24, 1985.

With the passage of time, Greg relished his role as grandfather or “Bunka” as he is called by his grandchildren. He loved taking them on the “Ice cream train” in the summer or walking hand-in-hand with them as toddlers. He taught them to cook chicken fingers, anchovy pasta and gambas al ajillo as they got older.

Family and friends will remember the many qualities that Greg possessed and especially will miss his legendary cooking. He learned at the hands of his father who taught him to cook Grandpa Jess’s Fried Chicken, and from his friends on Menorca, as well as cooking classes in Cambridge in the 80s, and countless hours spent with his extensive library of cookbooks. In a pinch he could whip up clam linguine for a dozen people in the time it took for the noodles to boil. He delivered home-cooked food to friends and family with new babies with his “feed the babies” project. His holiday meals started with epic cheese courses, tapas of sauteed wild mushrooms or gambas al ajillo and then piles of grilled or roasted meats, perfectly blanched and sauteed vegetables, and carefully selected wines from both the old and new world. While he was generous with his cooking lessons, no one could make those dishes quite like he did.

Even when enduring a lengthy illness, Greg expressed overwhelming gratitude for having been able to lead the life of his dreams. “How lucky are we?” was a refrain.

Greg is survived by his wife of 42 years and partner in life, Betsy Pattullo; son Jess Torres and his wife Ariane, son Gabe Torres; grandchildren Jack, Lydia, Quinn, Naomi and Evie; sister Juanita Saco and her husband Charlie; nephew David Saco and nieces Maria Orey and Claire Pattullo; and many, many dear friends.

In keeping with Greg’s wishes no services are planned. Donations in Greg’s memory can be made to Everyday Boston at everydayboston. org/donate.