Growing up with Greg Orman

We grew up in a modest sized house with a single mom and six kids. We all had to double up on bedrooms, which merely enhanced the amusement park level of chaos in the house. Even so, my Mom always insisted that we sit down for dinner each night to enjoy one of her culinary masterpieces, like meatloaf surprise or pork chops drowned in Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup. While this evening ritual got in the way of our hectic schedules, those dinners were never short on hilarity. We all still reminisce about one funny dinner table incident or another, and the family dynamics established at those dinners seems to have stayed with us throughout our lives.

Mike is still the “straight-man” comedian, Jackie is still the goof ball, and my brother Greg Orman, the second oldest in that chaotic clan, is still the leader. Greg has always been the go-to-guy for keeping the peace among us kids. When we’d fight over whose turn it was to pick the TV show or when I would chase Jackie around because she “borrowed” my sweater and then spilled hot chocolate down the front, Greg was always right there to calm us down.

He was our guidance counselor and helped us focus on what we wanted to do in the future. He provided sound advice and encouragement, whether it was when Lisa ran for class president, when David tried out for the hockey team or when Mike wanted to ask a girl out for a second date.

Greg led by his own example and showed me that hard work, determination, kindness and integrity are a lot more important than material things. He had to wait in line to claim his free-lunch tickets whenever our family qualified for them, and he would be the first to argue for my right to play with the neighbor kids during night games. Greg helped me realize the joy of being a part of our colorful family. The best part is, with Greg’s sense of humor, he never fails to make me laugh my way out of even the worst mood. He’s this awe-inspiring success, excelling at everything he does; yet he still takes the time to just hang out and be my brother.

-Michelle Orman

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