Greg Putz

Gregory Bryan Putz has been a Bountiful resident since 1979 and has built a life defined by devotion to family, curiosity about the world, and deep commitment to serving others. Born in Glendale, California, in 1952 to Rodney and Roseland Putz, his childhood in Montecito, California, was shaped by close family ties, frequent travel, and scouting—experiences that helped foster his lifelong love of learning and service. Greg earned the rank of Eagle Scout in BSA Troop 33, an early reflection of those values.

Greg met his wife, Suzanne when they were young. They attended Santa Barbara High School and college together before marrying in 1977. This fall, they will celebrate 49 years of marriage. Greg and Suzie are proud parents of two daughters and grandparents of five grandchildren, and time with family remains one of their greatest joys.

Greg attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He began his professional career with Chevron in 1977, while Suzie worked as a registered nurse at Stanford University. In 1979, Greg and Suzie moved to Utah when he was transferred to the Chevron refinery in North Salt Lake, and the couple made Bountiful their home. Greg became a professional civil engineer, registered in both California and Utah.

Over a 34year career, Greg served in a wide range of roles spanning engineering, operations, maintenance and human performance development.

Since retiring, Greg has continued his life adventures through travel, public service, and church work. At home, he spends time playing the bluegrass banjo, creating oil paintings, building stained glass garden lanterns, and writing.

Faith and service are central to Greg’s life. Since 1990, he has been an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville, where he has served in numerous leadership roles and weekly lay ministry duties. Most notably, for the past 16 years Greg has helped multi-faith groups of volunteers to provide free monthly dinners to anyone in the community.

What began in 2010 as a modest partnership with the Bountiful Food Pantry has grown into a thriving interfaith effort involving many local congregations. In 2025 alone, the community dinners served approximately 189 inperson meals each month and 73 takehome meals. Since 2020, Greg has coordinated a dedicated committee who oversee cooking, setup, serving, and cleanup. He works alongside volunteers from the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, The Bridge, St. Olaf Catholic Church, Bountiful First Baptist Church, Bountiful Community Church, and numerous wards and stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Greg also coordinates donations and funding from organizations and individuals, including the Bountiful Food Pantry, Costco Wholesale, Banbury Cross Doughnuts in Centerville, Big Byte Breads, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Kelly Maxfield & Mark McSwain and the many wards and stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The dinners are held at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection and are open to anyone seeking a hot meal and warm fellowship. As Greg explains, “We welcome everyone and have no restrictions on who attends. This is our offering to spread the Lord’s love in our community.”

Reflecting on what he has learned through this work, Greg says: “Fellowship is as important as food. Filling one’s stomach is our primary goal and we have found that filling one’s soul is just as important. These dinners are a safe and welcoming place. The social interactions of our guests are incredible and very rewarding to watch. A miracle occurs at each dinner.”

Of the community, Greg says, “People in our community are very generous. Whenever we ask for help, we are overwhelmed by volunteers and offers of food and goods needed for the dinners. People help us with great optimism and positive attitudes. It is refreshing to have such ceaseless support by our neighbors.” And he adds, “These monthly dinners are only possible by the hard work of many, many volunteers in our community - and our interfaith dinner committee members provide exceptional guidance and leadership to guarantee that these dinners happen month after month.”

Greg hopes to share this message with the community: “The Lord loves us unconditionally. These dinners are our small attempt to share a bit of that love with our neighbors. We see the impact in the faces of our guests, hear it in their words, and feel it in the dining room each time we gather.” Greg hopes that everyone will come and join in the food and fellowship at these monthly interfaith dinners.

Greg and Suzanne’s daughter, Danielle Hadley, offers this tribute: “Above all, Greg and Suzie are known for their generosity, warmth, and unwavering belief in serving others. To them, no one is a stranger – only family waiting to be welcomed. A loving husband, grandfather and friend, Greg has spent his life giving quiet acts of service, steady leadership, and meaningful contributions to the Bountiful community.”

Thank you, Handcart Days Parade Grand Marshal Greg Putz, for bringing people together and serving the community in such a meaningful and inspiring way.

(Special thanks for Danielle Hadley for her contributions to this biography.)