KNOTT Gregory Alan Gregory Alan Knott, 62, died suddenly on Sunday morning, January 10, 2010, at his home in the Old West End. Born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1947, Greg attended high school in Kirkwood, Missouri and continued his education at Ohio Northern University. He went on to work for the Norfolk & Western Railroad and became the youngest engineer with his own crew in the history of the company. He retired from the railroad after 10 years. Greg then sold real estate in Toledo's Old West End, at that time a declining neighborhood. He was instrumental in changing that area into the show place that it is today, with the entire community listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Around 1980, he served on Mayor Donna Owens' Save Our City committee. In 1981, with a friend, he designed, built and operated the original Toledo Recycling Station, the first theme-oriented buy-back recycling center in the World. In 1987, he converted a bare, concrete warehouse into bretz; an elegant night club welcoming the Gay community and serving all persons of good will. bretz remained a premier night spot for over twenty years. In 2007, Greg sold bretz which remains in business today. Greg was a close friend of Laurel G. Blair, an avid collector of lithophanes, which are three-dimensional porcelain castings designed to be lit from behind. He was deeply involved in the establishment of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes, located at the Toledo Botanical Gardens. Over the past 10 years, Greg spent summers taking his 23 foot boat, the Dollar Dance, through numerous Canadian waterways. His adventures carried him and his friends from Toledo throughout the Great Lakes, ranging from Duluth, MN to the salt waters of the St. Lawrence for whale watching. Greg was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. Greg is survived by Riba (his loyal and devoted four-legged friend), the Dollar Dance, and a large family of loving friends. Visitation will be at the Maison-Dardenne Funeral Home located at 501 Conant St, Maumee, OH. Visitation hours will be Friday, January 15, from 6pm-9pm and Saturday, January 16th, from 10am-1pm. At 5pm, a memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church located at 2272 Collingwood Blvd. A celebration of Greg's life will follow at the church hall. Donations may be made to the Gregory A. Knott Acquisitions Fund of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes: 5403 Elmer Dr, Toledo, OH 43615 or the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: 400 Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.Published in Toledo Blade from January 14 to January 15, 2010
