Gregg Stracks, 40, co-founded OPUS Leadership Group

Gregg Stracks, 40, died Jan. 10, 2012. He was the husband of Sara Selig.

Mr. Stracks, the son of Joan and Richard Stracks, grew up in Roxbury and graduated from Shepaug Valley High School in Washington in 1989. He majored in psychology at Dickinson College, earned a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford, and was awarded a doctorate from the University of Denver.

He was known to live life to the fullest. People of all ages gravitated to him because of his warmth, genuine caring and humanity.

Mr. Stracks was a teacher and visionary. He was able to meet extraordinary challenges with strength and courage to accomplish his goals.

Professionally, Mr. Stracks built on his personal values, focused on caring for others and supporting community and teamwork.

He had worked for the Clinton Foundation and the Elizabeth Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Kenya and Mozambique to help address psychosocial needs of families dealing with HIV.

Mr. Stracks had the unique ability to bring people together, and make each person feel loved and special. He was always making new friends during his travels and adventures around the world.

He loved nature and the outdoors, and especially the mountains and beaches. He developed a love for art and encouraged young artists worldwide in their work.

In Boston, Mr. Stracks co-founded OPUS Leadership Group, where he helped leaders and teams be most effective in their work. In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Stracks is survived by two brothers, Mark and David Stracks; a niece and nephew Rosulian and Richard Stracks; his wife's parents, Ellen and Andy Selig; his wife's sister, Becky Selig; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and colleagues.

Memorials may be made to the Gregg Stracks Memorial Fund at the Melanoma Research Foundation-CURE OM, 1411 K St. NW Ste. 500, Washington, D.C. 20005, with checks made payable to MRF-CURE OM with "Gregg Stracks" in the memo line), or to the Gregg Stracks Program for Leadership and Teamwork in Medicine at Brigham and Woman's Hospital, BWH Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave. 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, with checks made payable to the BWH-Gregg Stracks Program.