On Tuesday evening, May 31st, Greg Kotsovilis, citizen of Beverly, passed away, with his daughter Nicole at his side, after an extended illness; he was 68 years old. Greg was born in Peabody on July 14, 1947, to Mary (Rechetnuk) and Peter Kotsovilis. His mother, "Manya," was particularly influential, providing Greg with the loving foundation which would support him in raising his daughter, Nicole, as a single parent.

He graduated in 1980 from Boston University, summa cum laude, with a BS in Communications. For a number of years, he managed his family's business, the J&J Variety Store, at the corner of Hale and E. Lothrop Streets in Beverly. It was there, where the continuous flow of local customers and his instinctual love of engaging people, led to his life-long involvement in politics.

He began his organization and management of political campaigns with Phil Dunkelbarger's 1975 race for Mayor. The following year, continuing his attraction to unknown underdogs, he signed up to work for the peanut farmer from Georgia. It was in that Carter Presidential campaign that he met Everett Mayor, George McCarthy, for whom he would manage a Congressional campaign, getting to know many icons of Boston's local political scene. In Beverly, he was instrumental in a number of Mayoral campaigns for former Alderman-at-Large Dunkelbarger, former Mayor, Jack Monahan (always with Monahan when he ran against Dunkelbarger), and former Mayor and Ward II Alderman, Tom Crean.

For the last twenty years of his life, Greg focused on raising his daughter and working for LBK Transportation of Danvers, driving limousines and school buses, where he mentored kids as well as drove them to and from school and school activities.

Above all, three personal qualities characterized Greg: generosity, honesty, and intense passion for surmounting the challenges he faced. He had an infectious smile and laugh and brought a positive attitude into every encounter.

He never sought the limelight, and had a much more profound influence on his community than most people knew. He was much loved by his family and a wide circle of friends, and will be truly missed, by those who knew him well.