By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – What I will remember most about Gregg Bentler was his cheerful demeanor and his kindness.

Never do I recall him being in a bad mood or having a bad word to say about anybody.

Gregg loved people and people loved him.

Gregg and I weren’t close friends, but we were long-time acquaintances whose paths crossed due to our connections to Iowa Hawkeye athletics and to high school athletics.

Gregg was the public address announcer for Iowa men’s basketball, Iowa baseball and Iowa gymnastics, and he also served as the public address announcer for Iowa City High softball when his daughter was a member of the team.

Gregg was a voice that fans, players and coaches grew accustomed to hearing, a voice that helped to energize the in-game experience and a voice that just made you feel good.

“He had no enemies,” said long-time friend Ray Gilmore.

Sadly, that voice is now gone as Gregg Bentler passed away on July 23 at the far too young age of just 59.

He leaves behind a wife and two daughters, and a community in mourning.

Gregg made his job as a public address announcer seem easy when it was anything but easy.

He was a voice at Hawkeye sporting events that you might have taken for granted, but that you also relied on for specific information, and that you rallied behind as he would sing “Take me out to the ball game,” at Iowa baseball games.

He didn’t get too carried away behind a microphone, nor did he ever make it about him.

He just did his job, and to say that it will be difficult for Iowa Athletics to replace him would be understatement.

Something else I’ll remember about Gregg is that he always seemed to have a smile on his face, and he was usually the first to say hello and how are you doing.

Gregg was a huge Hawkeye fan, and yet, he never once complained to me about anything I wrote, even it were critical.

Gregg was also a huge fan of the Chicago Bears, as am I, but where we disagreed was his love for the St. Louis Cardinals and mine for the Chicago Cubs.

But it didn’t matter because Gregg treated everybody with respect and kindness, even Cub fans.

“He was always in a good mood and had energy,” Ray Gilmore said of his friend. “I’m sad I will never get to hear him sing “Take me out to the ballgame,” or announce, “that’s another Hawkeye strikeout.”

The world was a better place with Gregg Bentler in it, and it’ll take some time to get used to life without him.

My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends, and RIP.