I received a phone call while having lunch yesterday (1/10/20190) at 1:24 pm, informing me that Greg Knott had passed away. A tremendous feeling of grief, loss and sadness fell over me. I am not ready to loose such a close and good friend.

I met Greg in the summer of 1996.  I remember it well, it is when I officially "came out" to the world.  I was very confused at the time, not as to my orientation, but as to entering the community I for so long wanted to enter publicly. At this time Greg owned the bar, Bretz, here in Toledo. Which happened to be the first gay bar locally I ever went to, other than my "sneaky" trips out of town.

After meeting and talking to Greg, I also decided to move my accounting offices up-stairs from Bretz. I remember talking to Greg telling him about my fear of letting my clients know I was gay, but I also told him I needed them to know. His response was to tell me to open my accounting offices upstairs from Bretz, telling me that would be a signal to all of them. Greg, on the day I moved in, put a gay flag in my window on the second floor.

The times I hold dearest with Greg was our afternoon talks.  In the morning when he arrived at the bar to get his deliveries or clean up, he would call me on the phone and say "coffee is ready." I would grab my cordless phone, walk down the back steps, and we would sit at the bar and have long and meaningful conversations.

I remember the times he would "scold" me about by behaviour the night before or inform me as gay professional in the Toledo area what my responsibilities were to attend certain events and to support certain organizations.

So to say goodbye to him. Greg, you were the most influential person in a period of my life when I needed the most guidance, help and support.  You have always been there for me my good friend. I will miss you more with each passing day.