Gregory Scott "Greg" Hirtzel

Gregory Scott "Greg" Hirtzel, 61, of Lancaster, passed away suddenly on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Buffalo, New York, he was the son of Richard R. and Agnes Cassidy Hirtzel, who both preceded him in death. Greg was the loving husband of KristyAnn Mellott Hirtzel, with whom he took on life together as partners in all things for nearly 32 years. He was a man of faith and a member of Lancaster's St. James Episcopal Church.

Greg graduated from Sweet Home High School in Amherst, New York. He first attended Buffalo State University, where he played football for the Bengals, and later transferred to State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from Weidner University Delaware School of Law. His career as an attorney began at Bennett Bricklin & Salzburg's Philadelphia office; he soon opened their Lancaster office and became a partner. In 2000, Greg joined Post & Schell as a partner, with the goal of someday establishing his own firm. In 2014, he realized that dream as a founding partner in Fowler Hirtzel McNulty & Spaulding LLC, which served the Lancaster, Allentown, Philadelphia, and New Jersey areas. He enjoyed a long career, the respect of his peers, and repeated recognition through both accolades and invitations to present at various conferences as a top litigator in his field.

Greg was an avid coach and athlete. When his children were young, most of his weekends were spent reminding his gaggle of baby athletes to "act like you've been there before!" in gyms, on fields, and occasionally poolside. His passion for coaching began with the Lancaster Special Olympics weightlifting team and expanded into nearly all the sports his children played, including tee ball, softball, soccer, football, wrestling and lacrosse. True to his Buffalo roots, he was also an avid Bills and Sabres fan. And true to his own athletic youth, he enjoyed staying active and found it nearly impossible to sit still. He could frequently be found weightlifting, hiking, or enjoying walks on the beach with his wife. His love for physical fitness did, however, leave plenty of room for his sweet tooth; he delighted in a good beignet and regularly scoured the aisles at Lancaster Central Market for his next treat.

Greg was dedicated to his family. He took great care to pass down his values of dedication, courage, persistence, and using "the gifts God gave you" to their fullest. He also passed along his eclectic taste in music, which spanned several decades, genres, and Jims, from Croce to Buffet to Hendrix. In particular, he inherited a love for Johnny Cash from his own father that he passed down to his kids over many road trips spent singing along and attempting to offer wisdom that would only be appreciated with time. His other passions included reading, drawing, and having philosophical discussions with anyone willing to partake.

Greg's caring heart extended to the student athletes he coached, the professionals he mentored, his many friends, and complete strangers. He also cared for, as he frequently said, "all of God's creatures." The family French bulldogs, Margot and Maude, were his loyal companions. His reverence for nature and commitment to humanity extended as well to the many places he travelled and people he met. In particular, Greg loved the Caribbean nation of Belize and loved the friends he made there even more. He could always be counted upon to call his traveling companions' attention to something spectacular, grin, and ask whoever accompanied him, "pretty cool, huh?"

Greg was a compassionate, hardworking, thoughtful, and humble friend to all and is deeply mourned by those who have the honor of loving him. Surviving are his wife, KristyAnn, and his four children, Ed (Aleesha) Hirtzel, Madeline Hirtzel, Erin Hirtzel, and Luke Hirtzel. Also surviving are three siblings, Yvonne (Alan) Aszkler, Glenn (Lori) Hirtzel, and Christopher (Ronda) Hirtzel as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of Life at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 AM until the time of service. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. To send the family condolences online, please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Lancaster County Food Hub https://lancasterfoodhub.org/donate/ or Pet Pantry of Lancaster County https://petpantrylc.org/support/monetary-donations/. To send the family online condolences please visit, www.snyderfuneralhome.com