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In loving memory · 1949–2025

Gregory G.
Caiazzo

A life of faith and service.
A world of stories.

Gregory G. Caiazzo in later years
GregA family photograph from his later years

Priest · Navy Chaplain · Captain1949–2025

Faith · Service · Compassion · Humor · Wonder

Begin his story

Remembering Greg

Priest, chaplain and friend.

Greg spent nearly fifty years as a priest, including three decades in the Navy Chaplain Corps. He served sailors, Marines and their families, at sea and ashore.

He also loved a good meal, a long conversation and a chance to travel. The family photographs here remember that side of Greg: sharing dinner, exploring a new city or sitting with a dog on his lap.

This memorial brings together his service record, his own words and the photographs and memories shared by those who knew him.

1976Ordained a Paulist priest
30Years in the Navy Chaplain Corps
CAPTUnited States Navy
5Meritorious Service Medals

The chapters

A life of many callings #

Key dates and assignments from Greg’s life.

01
1949

New Jersey beginnings

Gregory Gene Caiazzo was born on June 21 and grew up in New Jersey.

02
1976

Ordained to serve

After formation at Maryknoll College and Washington Theological Union, Greg was ordained a Paulist priest and began in campus ministry.

03
1981

Joining the Navy

He entered the United States Navy Chaplain Corps, beginning three decades of ministry to sailors, Marines, and their families.

04
At sea

A chaplain underway

Greg went to sea aboard USS America and served wherever the work took him: ships, shore commands, submariners, Marines, and military families.

05
Abroad

Leadership across the Mediterranean

His assignments included leadership of Navy religious ministry in Southern Europe and service at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily.

06
In counsel

Preparing others to serve

As a senior chaplain and Force Chaplain for the Navy Reserve, Greg helped prepare the next generation for the practical and spiritual demands of service.

07
After uniform

A ministry continued

Greg continued serving as a civilian priest, including at Travis Air Force Base. Travel, learning, good food, animals, and long conversations remained essential parts of his life.

08
2025

Remembering Greg

Greg died peacefully on June 1. He was laid to rest with military honors at Florida National Cemetery, in the same section as his parents.

The service photographs

Greg in service

Photographs from his years as a Navy chaplain.

Chapter one

At sea #

Greg’s official portrait, a Mass aboard USS America and a cruise book page recall his time at sea.

Greg Caiazzo in his United States Navy dress uniform
01Official portrait · 1989
Greg Caiazzo celebrating Mass aboard USS America
02Mass aboard USS America · 1989
USS America cruise book page for the Religious Ministries team
03Religious Ministries team · 1989

Chapter two

Among colleagues #

With fellow chaplains and service members, at the Navy Memorial and the USS Midway Museum.

Greg Caiazzo speaking at the USS Midway Museum
04Speaking at the USS Midway Museum
Greg Caiazzo with a United States Navy lieutenant
05At the United States Navy Memorial
Greg Caiazzo with fellow United States Navy chaplains
06With fellow Navy chaplains

Chapter three

Ceremony and care #

Weddings, ceremonies and a smile for the camera, with children’s drawings in hand.

Greg Caiazzo officiating a wedding in a chapel
07Officiating a wedding
Greg Caiazzo at a wedding ceremony at the World War II Memorial
08A ceremony at the World War II Memorial
Greg Caiazzo smiling while holding children’s drawings
09A familiar warmth

Chapter four

Across the years #

Portraits and candid photographs from Greg’s early assignments through his later years in ministry.

Formal portrait of Captain Gregory Caiazzo
10Captain Gregory G. Caiazzo
Greg Caiazzo working in an office during an Okinawa assignment
11With Third Marine Division in Okinawa
Greg Caiazzo in an early-career office photograph
12An early-career candid
Greg Caiazzo with another priest
13A life shared in ministry

His ministry

A priest among the people he served. #

For Greg, ministry took place aboard ship, in chapels and among the families he served.

01

At sea and ashore

Greg’s Navy service took him aboard USS America, to Sicily and to Okinawa. He ministered to sailors, Marines and their families.

02

Weddings and family moments

These photographs include weddings Greg officiated and quieter moments, such as his smile while holding children’s drawings.

03

A practical kind of faith

Greg wrote about spiritual readiness, resilience and the way expectations shape daily life.

04

Warmth beyond the uniform

He enjoyed travel, good food and animals. The candid photographs recall that side of him alongside the formal portraits.

Have a story about Greg?Share a memory with us.

In his own words

Notes from a chaplain #

Read Greg’s articles on spiritual readiness and expectation, and his graduate thesis on religious education.

On spiritual readiness · 2007
“Spirituality balances out our thoughts, emotions and behaviors.”
Read Greg’s article On expectation · 2006
“The reality of ‘what is’ often falls short of expectation.”
Read Greg’s article Graduate thesis · 1988
Media uses in religious education and worship
Explore the university record

Beyond the uniform

The life between the milestones. #

Greg loved good food, dogs and travel. Here he is at the table, in London and beside an Alpine lake, enjoying the things that gave him pleasure.

Greg holding a small white dog at an outdoor table
01The animals who made a place feel like home
Greg smiling beside an enormous pizza
02A meal worth remembering
Greg serving dinner at home
03Hospitality, at home
Greg visiting Tower Bridge in London
04London · one of many journeys
Greg standing beside an Alpine lake
05Wonder, wherever the road led

The archive in motion

A life remembered. #

Remembering Greg through photographs of his ministry, his travels and time with those he loved.

A living memorial

Greg’s tree at Round Lake. #

A live oak planted in Greg’s memory at Round Lake. These photographs were taken on June 14, 2026.

Wide view of Greg’s memorial live oak at Round Lake
01Round Lake · June 2026
Greg’s memorial live oak at Round Lake with Paddy nearby
02A visit to the tree
Close view of Greg’s memorial live oak
03The living memorial
Gregory G. Caiazzo's memorial brick in the Peace Garden at St. Anthony's Hospital
St. Anthony'sPeace Garden · St. Petersburg · June 21, 2026

A place of peace

Greg’s brick at St. Anthony’s. #

Greg’s memorial brick is in the Peace Garden at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, a place to stop and remember him.

Records and writings

Service recorded.
Stories still growing. #

His military record, obituary, university work and Navy nomination record are collected here.

01
Veterans Legacy MemorialMilitary service and cemetery record
02
Obituary and guestbookLife story and public remembrances
03
University of Dayton archiveGreg’s 1988 graduate thesis
04
United States Congress1984 Navy Chaplain Corps nomination record

Gregory G. Caiazzo · 1949–2025

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