Amherst, Georges Gregorevitch Grinstein, died unexpectedly on Monday, February 26, 2018 in Amherst, Massachusetts at the age of 71, while enjoying his life long passion of teaching.

Georges was born on March 20, 1946 in Paris, France. He moved to New York City in 1959 and later graduated from City College of New York, NYU and Rochester University, where he received his Ph.D in mathematics and met his wife Janet. Georges’ teaching career began at Hunter High School in New York and continued through Temple University, Auburn University, and Fitchburg State College.

In 1983 Georges and Janet settled in Ashby, Massachusetts to raise their four children. He moved on to spend 30 years at UMass Lowell, directing the computer science department. In his “retirement” he continued to teach at various universities in the Happy Valley as professor Emeritus at UMass, Amherst.

Georges has enriched the lives of thousands of students and colleagues over his 50-year teaching career. He was beloved and will be remembered as a scholar, a visionary, a pioneer in his field of data visualization, a professor, a leader, a coach, an athlete, a musician, a world traveler, and a friend to many. Georges was beloved also for his sense of humor and his insatiable drive for knowledge and personal growth. Most importantly he was a devout family man.

Georges is survived by his partner Erica Lorentz of Hadley, MA, his son Alex and wife Jennifer of Norfolk, MA, his son Aaron and wife Lynsey of Ashfield, MA, his son Jordan of Wakefield, MA, and his daughter Raven of Somerville, MA. He also leaves behind his four grandchildren, and his sister Jacqueline and niece Julie. Georges was preceded in death by his amazing artistic wife of 34 years, Janet Coutu, who passed away in 2010.

Calling hours will be held from 1 – 4 pm Saturday March 10, 2018 at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 N. Pleasant St, Amherst, MA. The Grinstein Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 11th from 1:00-4:00 at the University of Massachusetts’ Marriott Center in the Campus Center Building- 11th floor, Amherst, MA.