Greg’s Legacy
Greg Piercy has dedicated his life to the youth of our community.
Born and raised in Tacoma, Greg taught at Hilltop Artists since the organization’s inception and helped to build the glass hot shops at both Hilltop Heritage (formerly Jason Lee) Middle School and Dr. Dolores Silas (formerly Wilson) High School. Greg also established the after school bead program that ran for nine years at Ford Middle School.
Although he describes himself as “self-taught,” Greg was mentored by artists Tony Jojola, Dale Chihuly, and others in over two decades of working with glass.
Greg learned about the formation of Hilltop Artists – then called Hilltop Artists in Residence – from its cofounder Dale Chihuly.
Back in the early 90s, Greg and Dale became friends, and Dale hired Greg to help with odd jobs in every aspect of his business. Dale Chihuly had partnered with gallerist Kathy Kaperick to create a new program that offered young people a safe space and a way to engage with art. Greg was intrigued and began volunteering with the new project.
Right from the beginning, Greg was an invaluable volunteer. Not only did he teach and mentor students, he also maintained and repaired equipment, learning everything he could about caring for a hot shop.
Within the first month he went from volunteering two days a week to spending four to five days a week at the hot shop, often arriving by 6 am and staying until 10 pm.
When Greg started at Hilltop Artists over 26 years ago, he recognized that the program had a deeper impact for the students beyond the skills learned. “It’s not about the glass, it’s about the kids,” became his mantra, one he repeated often over the years.
Beyond the classroom, Greg has partnered with the community to bring art and opportunities to others.
Some of his projects include working with the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory to organize exhibits of student work in the Victorian-style conservatory; creating an installation at the outdoors school Idaho Base Camp, and designing and installing the Healing Bridge at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Hilltop Artists students and staff worked together to create over 1,800 glass floats that were installed along the hospital’s skyway.
Through his devotion, creativity, and compassion, Greg has defined the values of Hilltop Artists. Because of Greg, the youth of Hilltop Artists learn teamwork, resilience, critical thinking, and creativity.
Daily, he showed students that they are cared for, they belong, and that they have someone looking out for them. Greg has taught an estimated 6,000 students over multiple generations, including six Hilltop instructors.
Greg officially retired the summer of 2021 and will be deeply missed… although we know he won’t be far and is always welcome at his Hilltop home!
The Greg & Gladys Piercy Fund
Greg’s family and friends have come together to establish a new scholarship fund for Hilltop Artists, honoring both Greg and his mother Gladys Piercy.
This fund will annually pay for a student to attend a 2-week course at the Pilchuck Glass School or to attend an art program that supports a young artist with their creative goals. Piercy family and friends are committed to raising funds to seed three years’ of the Fund, and plan to continue to support the fund in perpetuity.
In recognition of his Greg’s commitment, and the impact of his amazing mother, Gladys, the Piercy and Wolfe families invite you to donate to the Gladys and Greg Piercy Fund.
Please consider donating to the fund here. On the donation page, you will find an option to give in honor of someone, please enter Greg and Gladys Piercy Fund.”
You may also mail a check payable to Hilltop Artists with “Gladys and Greg Piercy Fund” into the memo line to Hilltop Artists, PO Box 6829, Tacoma, WA 98417.
About Greg’s mother, Gladys Piercy
Violet Gladys Bergquist Piercy was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Gladys was a wife to Dale Piercy, mother to Greg and Eric, and friend to so many.
Gladys was many things, put in particular, she was:
Loving: Dale, the boys and her friends were the center of her life.
Caring – always there for friends and family.
Gladys was insightful and made sure her family had the very best opportunities.
She was determined, and made sure her sons received a good, diverse education.
Gladys was an entrepreneur: she opened and ran a successful uniform shop in the Hilltop neighborhood.
And finally, she was creative – She could sew anything, was a gifted painter, and made and sold many craft projects during the holidays.
Gladys always had the highest expectations for herself and for those she cared for. Says Gladys’s lifelong friend Sallie Zimmer, “It was this expectation that made us try to do our best. I know that this is what has made Greg the caring, talented person he is. He learned a lot from his mother.”
