Gregory Andrew Bird

This truly breaks my heart but i can’t help but laugh when i think of the times I had with him during our aau days. He constantly made us girls laugh. I’ll never forget 5 of us spending our weekends at your house and we all were in that time of the month. Well he yells out “why are tampons everywhere? We just having a big tampon party?” Hahaha Im sending my love and prayers to meg and mama bird as i know he was your world.

Greg ALWAYS made me laugh on the sidelines of various sporting events that had brought my daughter, Kate, and Megan together. He was a wonderful guy and so easy to talk to! I am very very sad by this news and am sending a big virtual hug to you all.

I don’t even know where to start here… When we were 20 something’s we had a huge close group of friends and Greg was at the center of that. I’m heartbroken as we all are but Greg wouldn’t want us to be that way ,he would want us to laugh. Shaw’s softball games, gatherings at the Bird household, poker games, P.J.’s Pub, sharing our friendships in each other’s weddings. Greg was one of my groomsmen at my own wedding, in charge of making me relax. My typical Greg moment evolved over time. Several of our friends had weddings at St. Michael’s Church in Exeter and as was customary, bells would ring as part of the ceremony, at which time, Greg would open his suit coat and look inside for the bells. He did this for several of our friend’s weddings and he knew I couldn’t look at him without laughing. One, wedding we were both groomsmen ( Joe and Sherrie Michaud ?) at St. Michael’s Church, and I told him as seriously as I could that he was not to do that while we were up in front of the church as part of the ceremony. Well the bells of course rang, and he stared right at me and slowly opened his tux jacket.. I lost it. That was Greg, he made us all laugh and enjoy life. I love you man!! Until we meet again, my friend….

I have so many great memories with the Bird family and uncle Greg. I miss the Super Bowl parties and poker games. I remember one year me and aunt Mandie lost poker first so we had to make sandwiches and we cut the bread the wrong way and uncle Greg joked about it forever haha. He always made me laugh so hard.

Uncle Greg,
They say the best go first, and I truly believe that. You had the biggest heart and such a nurturing spirit—you were truly one of a kind. There was never a dull moment when you were around. Honestly, you should have been a stand-up comedian. The things you’d say… no one else could’ve gotten away with them, I swear. You never ceased to amaze me with your humor and the way you owned a room. Life was simply better with you in it.

Thank you for always being so supportive of me, for constantly reminding me how proud you were. That is something I will carry with me forever, because it truly meant the world to me. I’m also so grateful you got to meet Nick and the kids, and that they got to experience you.

You left us far too soon, Uncle Greg. I hope you’re up there with my mommy. Until we all meet again—fly high. 🙏🏼🪽

I know Greg through Beth. The pictures of smiles, silliness, and love pouring from each. I loved Greg for how he loved Beth in just the ways she needed and did the same for the family they created.

The world will be a little less fun without Greg. He was a great friend and neighbor that became family. He taught me so much on how to be a great father and grandfather. All the years of watching the kids games together, the Patriots and Super Bowl parties, out on the deck with a drink and cigar, golf trips, and all the holidays and weekends with the LOADS crew. I will miss and cherish all those times. I never got made fun of so much and still felt so much love. Even though you had a hard time seeing us we always saw you! Until we can cheers again my friend.

Every time i stepped into the Bird household was a new memory- if not made directly with Greg it was made by the welcoming nature of his (and Beth’s!) home and all of the positivity, humor and love that he poured into Meg that taught her to be the same way and because of that his memory will live on through his family and all the love he put into everything he touched! 🩷

He was the best neighbor I could’ve ever asked for. Growing up with him and your family will always be my favorite memory of the old neighborhood. He was another dad to me and I’ll love him always for that. I’m so thankful to have grown up with such an amazing group of people always cheering me on, especially at field hockey games. Sending my love.

I don’t know where to start with this because my heart breaks for you all. My absolute favorite memory with Birdman was obviously tubing on Lake Opeechee with him as the boat driver. It was such a blast and I will never forget him whipping us to the front of the boat from going in circles on the lake. My second favorite memory was spending every weekend at your home and all of the amazing team feeds and laughter we all shared. I am so thankful to have met and been a big part of your family growing up. He will be sorely missed but his light will always be there to remind us he’s with us. I love you guys 💗

Greggy-
In the time since you’ve passed, I’ve been flooded with so many memories. My heart has been broken and heavy, but somehow I find myself smiling every time you come to mind because you were light, happiness, and laughter in human form.

There are so many good memories, but just to name a few of my favorites:
• Portsmouth bar crawls and rum buckets
• Singing Lose Yourself, Rock Lobster, and Wobble Baby while you dropped us off at the bars
• Fourth of July parties with you on the grill
• Walking in to find you watching Bruins or Red Sox games, swearing at the TV in the basement – a space you always gave up for us without hesitation
• Seeing you behind the backstop at every softball game we played, supporting us and always being our biggest fan ❤️

This loss feels incredibly big, but I know your love and unforgettable sense of humor will live on through Megan and Beth, and in all of us lucky enough to have known you.
Beth and Megan-Thank you for sharing him with us.
Love you always

Truthfully just too many. He took such good care of my parents when my dad was sick. My mom still raves about his shepherds pie. He would fill their freezer weekly during his chemo treatments. He Caused so much trouble with Bob in the bleachers or sidelines of bball and field hockey games for years. Also the invention of “release the hounds” field hockey defense strategy IYKYK

Love you big bird and family. I know him and Bob are causing trouble up there together

To many of us when we were young, Greg and Beth were like a pair of second parents. They opened their home and hearts to all of Megan’s friends and treated all of us like we were family. Greg was always there to make you laugh. One of my favorite memories of him was a night at Dairy Queen in Laconia…he rolled all the windows down and blasted Rock Lobster so loud the entire parking lot turned around and then locked the doors so Megan and I couldn’t get in, so we had no choice but to belt out Rock Lobster at the top of our lungs. This is just one of many memories that come to mind. To Beth, Megan and family, I’m so sorry for your loss. Love to you all 💕

There are not enough words in this box I could type to show even half of how great Greg was. From the first day I met this family, I felt like family. I am so grateful to have crossed paths and became as close as I did to the Birds. From summer’s in Laconia and Rum Buckets, to Super Bowl parties, trips to Canada, trips to his brothers, rounds of golf, and our shared hatred for Don Sweeney, I can honestly say I have so many memories from all of it. He felt like another dad to me in so many ways. I think of him everyday, and to say he will be missed is an understatement. I will always remember him for his personality and jokes.

All of us have memories of Big Bird- all good ones looking back. One of my memorable ones which wasn’t any thing new except to Erika. He started yelling at her as he did loudly in Walmart but she was 12 and really didn’t know him to know – that was him. Something about basketball I think she was scared and then he started laughing and hugged her. So from then on when he would see her anyplace he would yell at her. I remember mentioning it to Megan and her saying “that’s an everyday occurrence at our house “! He had such a great personality after he was finished making fun of you -we’d all have a good laugh about it. He will be missed by many that’s for sure. Keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers ❤️. Love “The Marchione’s “

Oh Greg-your comedic timing, NE sports enthusiasm, generous heart & true, pure love of your family, is something we should all inspire to be & to do!
Yes, you were hilarious with your jokes & Bill Murray Caddyshack impression of, “well at least I have that going for me!”
I, however, loved our candid heart to heart chats-about life, experiences, hurts, loves & lost. You had incredible insight that you gently shared without judging. This impacted me.
You have been a constant in my life-so many fun times we have shared! From the blind date, to many celebrations, sadness & everything in between! I loved seeing the Oscar winning movie 80 for Brady with you & Beth. You had that tough talk with me about are you a Brady fan or a Patriots fan? Well, I believe we all know that answer! But YOU were the one strong enough to ask me…
So many memories & experiences we have shared! NH-camping, Club Casino, concerts, beaches, lake life & sports! TN-Dollywood, Graceland, Grand Old Opry & car breaking down heading to airport! VIVA LAS VEGAS-Titus villa living, breakfast buffet-the meats, Pats game poolside & Piff show! MO-football game, attending hockey Bruins vs Blues, Fast Eddies & bbq with alcoholic shakes! Plus escape room-we rocked it! TX-poolside chats, delicious food & cocktails, goat bar (again back to Tom!) & having a house full of family & fun!
I know without a doubt your legacy will live on with the love of your life Beth, your beautiful daughter Megan & those fabulous grandchildren!
I love you, I already miss you & every-time I make stuffed shells-I will think of you with so much love!

Words could never express how deeply saddened I am at Gregs passing. For me, Greg was a strong force when I needed help with a difficult situation and stepped up without hesitation. RVYSEF would not have been a success without his help. I will never forget his support and sense of humor. He was the epitome of a family man. My prayers are with his devoted family.

Greg and I were born 368 days apart, me being older. We were a great goalie tandem for the Blue Hawks. We played Kitty (Bid) Whist every chance we got during free periods in school. We were temporary roommates when his parents let me stay at their home after I was kicked out of my house (I wasn’t always an angel!). We were golfing buddies along with Mark Coutts, Charlie Coffey and others. He often made fun of, and gave a somewhat believable accounting for, his split face (IYKYK)! But the really good times after we had both graduated HS were the Shaws-gang parties where Greg and I would lead the ensemble in singing along to Freaker’s Ball by Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show!
I must also say that I had a front row seat, along with one of Beth’s BFFs Linda Coffey (St. Amour), to Greg’s unrelenting, and finally successful, attempts at getting Beth to be his GF!!! Fantastic memories of a great guy that I had unfortunately never been able to connect with after I joined the Navy. But much of my storytelling included some antic or adventure with Greg! I am very glad to have known him and call him my friend!