I met Gregory during our freshman year of college through his roommate, with whom I had graduated the summer before. During my very first meeting with Gregory at one of the dining locations on campus, I mused about an issue I was having with my phone, and he immediately picked up my phone off the table and fixed it. From that point on through the rest of the year, I found myself in near daily communication with him, either through Hangouts, or quite literally hanging out with him in his dorm room until 3 AM or at various places around campus or the bay.
To friends and family, I often compared Gregory to a modern day Sherlock, if Sherlock had also been given innate people skills. Gregory's incredible intelligence coupled with his innate interpersonal skills gave him command of virtually any situation, in a way that I had never seen before - Gregory was truly the most gifted individual I have ever met in my life.
Once I moved back home after my first year, we talked less often and I only saw him in person a few times after that, a fact which I now deeply regret. Last year, during my last time seeing him in person, we were planning to meet up for a little bit between his classes after I picked my girlfriend up from the airport. As the time drew nearer, it was clear that both her flight and my arrival were going to be delayed. I apologized to him, and offered just to meet up for a few minutes on campus so he could make his class on time. Instead, he offered to take his only unexcused absence in his upcoming class, just so we'd still have enough time to spend a few hours together. In his words, "I'd rather spend the limited time I get to spend with you and Alayna." I tried to express how much that meant to me, and I hope he knew it - his unwavering kindness and sheer unselfishness is something I'll never forget.
I miss you, Gregory - San Jose will be a lot quieter without you.