Beloved New Lenox Man Remembered For Endless Energy, Kind Guidance

NEW LENOX, IL — Greg Zibricky's family would say he rarely met a stranger who wouldn't soon become his friend. The New Lenox man was warm and outgoing, kind and chatty. A man of boundless energy, he made the effort to know many, and was embraced across different communities and social circles.

He was celebrating with friends at Frankfort Fall Fest on Sept. 2 when he suddenly fell ill. Paramedics were called, but Greg Zibricky would die later that day at Silver Cross Hospital. A cause of death has yet to be determined. He was 58 years old.

His sudden death has crushed those who knew him.

Among them, the crew at his local Starbucks, where Greg enjoyed spending time. He knew the staff by name, and they knew him. They grew a rapport over casual interactions across the counter and around the shop.

"I'm a pretty social person, I’m extremely friendly," joked his younger brother Brian Zibricky. "But I could go to Starbucks for five years and probably not get to know anybody."

Greg, however, was a constant, smiling face in the café where he'd visit with his friends and clients. That was just one of his familiar places, however. He would bop between events at CD&Me in Frankfort, golf at The Sanctuary in New Lenox, and spend time with family enjoying the outdoors.

"He had a zest for life," his mother Rozanne Zibricky told Patch. "He had so much going on, he could never sit in one place too long."

His work as a certified financial planner kept him connected with current clients and reaching out to possible new ones.

"I would always joke and tell him, you know everyone in New Lenox, and I know no one," Brian Zibricky said. "He was always on the move, he would not want to be sedentary too long. Always wanted to talk to people, engage with people—even people he didn’t really know. Very open, energetic."

Greg's death is among the most recent in a series of shattering blows to the Zibricky family over the past several years, the most significant to Greg being the death of his wife Dawn, 55, in 2019. Greg faltered under the weight of his grief, Brian said, but sought solace in his love for music, family time, social outings, White Sox games — and helping people.

Greg found fulfillment in serving others, his brother said. Greg and Dawn shared sons Benjamin and Aaron, now 26 and 29 respectively. Aaron is autistic, and Greg's experience raising someone with unique challenges compelled him to work with the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association. He spent time on the association's foundation, working to provide adaptive recreation services for individuals with disabilities across the association's service area.

"He was all about helping people," Brian said. "We both loathed people who would take advantage of the disadvantaged.

"Underserved communities, minority communities — anybody who needed a leg up — he would always watch out for those people and do what he could to help them."

Lincolnway Special Recreation Association Executive Director Keith Wallace remembers his time working alongside Greg as one filled with passion, dedication, and enthusiasm for the mission.

"He was an amazing man," Wallace said. "Very down-to-earth, open. Spontaneous, always willing to help."

Even after his time with the association ended, Greg often found his way back to them.

"He was always interested in doing something, in coming in and helping out the agency, being a part of the family," Wallace said.

Greg took what he had learned raising an autistic son, and wrote a book about how to create a financial framework to support an autistic child and distribute funds to protect them. Prior to his wife's death from cancer in 2019, Greg and she had set a goal that she would see their son graduate college — a goal that was achieved. Aaron is employed and is high-functioning.

Through his job, Greg also guided people in planning for the long run financially.

"He figured out really early on that he could get into this area and help people, which was ultimately what he wanted to do," Wallace said. "The financial thing ended up being the vehicle for helping people.

"That’s what it showed me — do something for the greater good, don’t just do something for a paycheck."

Greg's caring heart was on display once more when Brian's wife Sue was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years ago, with Greg offering constant support. All along, Greg was not only Brian's older brother, but best friend and support system, he said.

"I considered him one of my best friends," Brian said. "Even though he was my brother, we would talk and text almost on a daily basis."

Rozanne called her son caring and thoughtful, often playfully referring to him as "super-son."

"Greg was a fabulous dad, funny friend, chef extraordinaire. Movie fan. Jazz fan. Lust for travel. Glorious sense of humor, sharp wit," she read from the unfinished obituary the family was writing.

"He was a thoughtful gift-giver. You were lucky if he was your friend, and gifted if he loved you.

"He was just incredible."

The family has planned a celebration of life to be held Sunday, Oct. 2 at CD&Me, from 4 to 8 p.m. CD&Me is located at 23320 S. La Grange Road.