Gary Clyde Pishkur, 74, a beloved longtime member of the Greenwich community, died on September 1, 2026.
An artist, educator, devoted friend, and familiar presence in Greenwich Public Schools for more than three decades, Gary touched countless lives with his warmth, humor, kindness, and joyful spirit.
Gary was born on March 14, 1952, in Torrance, California, the only child of William and Dorothy Pishkur.
His family later moved to Greenwich, where Gary grew up and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1970. Greenwich remained Gary’s home and community for most of his life.
After high school, Gary earned his undergraduate degree in art. He later studied special education, bringing together his creativity and love of working with young people.
A talented painter and photographer, Gary had a lifelong passion for art. He was fascinated by Conyers Farm and its history. Gary told friends that his mom had played on the estate as a child when it was a working farm, giving him a personal connection to the property. He spent years exploring the grounds when the original Conyers Manor stood abandoned and photographed the aging estate, capturing a piece of Greenwich history that had long fascinated him.
Gary also enjoyed painting, often drawing inspiration from nature. That appreciation carried into another of his great loves: gardening. He took great pride in the beautiful garden surrounding his Greenwich home, filling it with bright, colorful flowers and giving his creative eye another outlet.
Gary’s long career with Greenwich Public Schools began in 1990, when he started working as a substitute. In September 1993, Gary was hired by Greenwich Public Schools as a paraeducator, working closely with students with special needs. He became one of Greenwich High School’s longest-serving paraeducators and a deeply valued member of the school community.
Gary loved his students and formed genuine connections with generations of young people across subject areas, including the arts. Among the memories preserved in Gary’s school records is a note from former principal Hazel Hobbs recognizing Gary for quickly helping a student who was choking at Hamilton Avenue School.
To his colleagues, Gary was much more than a coworker. He was someone they could depend on, and his presence was remembered as warm, genuine, and comforting. His wonderful sense of humor could easily make those around him laugh. Whether someone knew Gary for decades or had only recently met him, he had a way of leaving an impression.
Outside of school, Gary loved cooking and animals, especially dogs. His beloved Chihuahuas, Nip and Tuck, were an important part of his life. Full of energy and personality, they were remarkably well trained. Gary often brought them with him, and once they settled in, they could be so quiet that you might hardly know they were there. Gary also loved cooking for friends and neighbors and took great pleasure in sharing meals with the people he cared about.
Those who knew Gary will remember not only what he did, but how he made them feel. He brought warmth, laughter, and kindness into the lives of his friends, students, and colleagues. His happy spirit made ordinary days brighter, and the affection expressed by the Greenwich High School community following his death reflects just how deeply he was loved.
Gary was also a generous supporter of causes that were meaningful to him. Among the organizations he supported were the American Lung Association, Breakthrough T1D, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Gary leaves behind a wide circle of friends, colleagues, former students, and members of the Greenwich community who will miss him deeply. He will be remembered for the care he showed his students, his creativity, his love for Nip and Tuck, his laughter and kindness, and the joyful spirit he brought wherever he went.
A public memorial service celebrating Gary’s life will be held Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 2:30pm at Christ Church Greenwich, 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gary’s memory to Breakthrough T1D, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).