NAMI E-News January 16, 2003 Vol. 03-02
__________________________________
Dick Greer
Arlington, VA-Richard T. (Dick) Greer, 76, who in the 1980s helped spearhead
the drive to refocus the federal government's research efforts toward the
biological basis for mental illnesses and to increase research funding and
community services, died of acute leukemia on January 13, 2003 at his
Arlington, Virginia home.
He served six years as the first legislative director of the National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), which was founded in 1979. He later led advocacy
for better services in Virginia, and served as president of NAMI-Virginia. In
2001, he and his wife, Betsy Samuelson Greer, received NAMI's President's
Award at NAMI's 22nd national convention for their exemplary service and
partnership.
"Dick Greer was among the first to recognize that, with proper treatment,
persons can and do recover from mental illness, and he tirelessly championed
their rights to homes, jobs, and dignity," said James Howe, former NAMI
national president.
At NAMI, Greer worked on federal legislation to have states involve families
and consumers in the planning and allocation of mental health resources and
then was active on Virginia's planning council. He also played a key role in
the passage of a federal law to ensure protection of the rights of
institutionalized persons, and later served on the state council charged with
overseeing implementation of the law in Virginia.
His greatest pride came from the contributions he and his wife made in
Arlington County towards improving mental health services at the community
level. For nine years, they produced a monthly newsletter that is widely
circulated throughout Virginia. Greer also served on the Arlington Community
Services Board, and with his wife, led monthly support groups, taught family
education courses, and initiated and led an Arlington advocacy group. In
addition to national recognition, Greer was honored by NAMI-Virginia and the
Northern Virginia Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens.
"Dick cared deeply about all people and their circumstances," said Val Marsh,
executive director of NAMI-Virginia in Richmond. "He was honorable in a way
that few people are able to become in a lifetime. I always admired his ability
to articulate complex thoughts in a quiet, respectful manner. His intellect
had a kind of precision to it that could straighten one's posture in awe."
Prior to NAMI, Greer served in several positions as a federal employee, much
of it in the U.S. Senate. He taught high school in Minnesota and came to
Washington, D.C. in 1954 to work for Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN). He
served seven years as deputy librarian of the Senate Library and seven years
as a deputy division director in the Commerce Department's Economic
Development Administration (EDA), working on programs to help the poor and
unemployed. In the 1970s, he served under Senator Quentin Burdick (D-ND) as
staff director of the Senate Subcommittee on Regional and Community Economic
Development, overseeing anti-recession initiatives that totaled more than $6
billion.
Greer's career was guided by principles of social justice, but his commitment
to helping people with mental illness flowed from his own family's experience.
Speaking about his work with NAMI, he once observed: "I was never more
motivated in anything I had ever done in life, because of the pain and
frustration of my son's illness."
He received an MA from Georgetown University in 1959. Earlier he graduated
from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. He served in World War II as a
tail gunner on a B-17 in the U.S. Army's 8th Air Force. His first marriage to
Alyce Greer ended in divorce.
Besides Betsy, his wife of 21 years, Greer is survived by six children:
Timothy, Virginia Beach, VA; Teresa, Los Angeles, CA; Gretchen Greer Eden,
Mountain View, CA; Martha Averso, Harrisburg, PA; Sarah Snowdon, Fairfax VA;
Richard, Jr., Arlington, VA; and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 in
Arlington National Cemetery. Friends also may call on the family at the Murphy
Funeral Home in Arlington, 4510 Wilson Boulevard, from 7 to 9 PM on February
5.
A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4444
Arlington Boulevard, on Thursday, February 6, at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers,
the family requests that donations be made in Greer's memory to
NAMI-Virginia, P.O. Box 1903, Richmond, VA 23218.
-----------------------------------------------------------
The NAMI E-News is an electronic newsletter delivering the latest in federal
action alerts, legislative and policy updates, and NAMI press releases.
Provided free of charge as a public service, the NAMI E-News is read by more
than 16,500 NAMI members, policymakers, federal and state legislators, media,
providers, health care policy experts, and others interested in improving the
lives of individuals with severe mental illnesses and their families.
Contributions to support the NAMI E-News are welcomed and can be made online (http://www.nami.org/about/development/index.html);
via mail (make check payable to NAMI and send to NAMI, P.O. Box 79972,
Baltimore, MD 21279-0972); or through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC
#0538).
Currently, NAMI Members number 220,000.
Thank you.
Last Updated on
04/08/04
webmaster@namiscc.org
