Gregory Pascale was the type of person who embraced every new phase of his life. No matter what that step was, he made sure to carry forward the best parts of every chapter into each new adventure.

At 26, Greg decided to take a leap of faith and relocate his life to Chicago in the Fall of 2022. He accepted a job as a corporate accountant. He entered this new phase with a tight-knit group of lifelong friends and strong ties to his family, and was just starting to settle into his new life in a new city. 

Greg’s time was cut short when, after a night out with some friends, he unexpectedly passed away in the early morning hours from Fentanyl poisoning. 

Greg did not suffer from Substance Use Disorder and was unaware that the substance he was using as a recreational drug contained fentanyl. As he was not a regular drug user, Greg’s tolerance to any opioid (fentanyl is a synthetic opioid) was very low. It only took a very minimal amount of exposure to kill him.

If this seems like a story you’ve heard before, you’re probably right – One of the most heartbreaking parts of Greg’s story is that it is not unique. So many similar stories and cautionary tales already existed prior to his death. 

This is why some of Greg’s closest friends and family came together to establish The Gregory Pascale Foundation. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to raising awareness and educating on the dangers of fentanyl poisoning, as well as increasing resources and advocacy to prevent the fentanyl crisis. But even though we will dedicate ourselves to saving as many families as we can from Greg’s fate, the way he passed will not be the most prominent thing we remember about him

We will remember Greg as someone whose passion was clear in everything he did. He was passionate about nature, music, sports, and cherished moments with friends and family. 

We’ll remember the strong friend group he formed throughout his childhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania that followed him throughout his life, wherever he went next. We’ll remember his achievements in wrestling and the leadership skills he gained at Penn State University, where he became an integral part of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. 

Most of all, we’ll remember summers spent in Sea Isle, New Jersey and Bethany Beach, Delaware, and winters on the mountain, like the family ski trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, in January 2022. Greg's love for travel was evident in his adventures, and he had plans to visit friends and family throughout the country in the spring. 

That bright future was tragically cut short, but Greg would want his story to save lives. It is with his energy and positive spirit that we move forward with this foundation. 

We love you forever Gregory.