COLRAIN — While lifelong Colrain resident Greg Herzig might have had a “gruff” appearance, his friends and family members say anyone who had even a brief interaction with him discovered his teddy-bear demeanor.

“If there is a Harley heaven, he is in it,” said Herzig’s lifelong friend Kirby Brothers.

Herzig, 66, died in a motorcycle crash in Charlemont on April 12. According to a statement from State Police Trooper Brandon Doherty, the collision involved a 2005 Harley Davidson that Herzig was riding and a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The collision was reported at around 1 p.m. in the vicinity of 1449 Route 2.

According to Doherty, the Jeep was traveling eastbound and pulled to the right side of the road, preparing to attempt a U-turn. The motorcycle collided with the SUV as the driver navigated the SUV back onto the roadway.

When reached by phone this week, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Laurie Loisel said the crash is still under investigation. At this time, charges haven’t been filed against the involved driver.

Many knew Herzig as a hard-working handyman. He was known to make daily trips around the area checking in on his many brothers and sisters. He was on his way to his brother Steve Herzig’s home when he died.

He started every morning by visiting his sister at her restaurant, The Heritage Diner in Charlemont, where he would eat with Brothers. He would then make his rounds to family members’ homes, playing with their dogs and quickly fixing anything he saw that was in need of repair.

“I had to be careful if I turned around with something apart on my bench,” his brother, Steve Herzig, recounted. “When I would turn back, he would be fixing it.”

“I never knew what day he was going to pull in,” said Greg’s brother-in-law and close friend Richard Handlowich. “He was a best friend and the best brother-in-law.”

In the afternoons, he would often call Brothers to go for a motorcycle ride, during which he would always stop at an Ashfield gas station for coffee. Greg Herzig became interested in motorcycles later in life after his other passions for Jeeps, hunting and fishing.

“He understood the risks,” Steve Herzig said, saying Greg always wore a helmet.

“He was a wonderful guy,” Handlowich said. “He did so many things for so many people. He never let me down.”

Along with the many friends he made throughout his life, Greg Herzig had a soft spot for dogs and children. Despite not having kids of his own, he was regularly involved in the lives of his friends’ and family members’ children.

“He would have made an excellent father,” Brothers said. Greg Herzig was married, but later divorced.

Friends and family members described Greg Herzig’s real best friend as his black lab Cinder, a dog he would do everything with. He had many dogs throughout his life but never got a new one after Cinder died several years ago.

Being a graduate of Franklin County Technical School in Turners Falls, Greg Herzig was able to fix and design anything he put his mind to, according to his sister Kathy Handlowich. He worked as a logger for many years and retired about eight years ago, Steve Herzig said.

Martha Caron, the widow of Greg Herzig’s cousin, said she doesn’t believe he had any regrets or unfulfilled dreams on the day he died. She said he had no desire to travel and had never been on a plane.

“He was happy to be right here,” Caron said. She added, “He will be missed so much by everybody.”

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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