Marion Greer, 86

FALL RIVER, MASS. – Marion (Clarich) Greer died Sept. 24. She was the wife of Dr. David Greer; they were married for 64 years. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Grabelsky) Clarich, she had been a resident of Fall River since 1957.

She was educated in the New York City public schools and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Brooklyn College. She had continuing education at the University of Chicago, University of Massachusetts and Bristol Community College. From 1949 to 1979, she taught at elementary schools in New York, Midlothian and Chicago, Ill., Hamden, Conn., and Fall River.

Her voluntary community activities during the last 30 years are too numerous to list, but several warrant special mention. For 25 years, she gave weekly lessons on the hospital and health professions to first graders in Fall River and regional schools, starting with a personal introduction in the classroom, followed by a non-threatening tour of the hospital. More than 25,000 children, spanning three generations, benefited from this program, becoming familiar with admissions procedures, the emergency room and other areas that they might encounter as patients in the future. National attention was brought to this program as a result of an article in a magazine published by the American Hospital Association. Consequently she was appointed to the Auxiliary Advisory Council of the Massachusetts Hospital Association and served as Health Education Chair of the Charlton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She also chaired many hospital fund-raising events.

She served on the Board of Directors of more than 20 other local and regional organizations. Notably, she was a member of the Board of Bristol Community College for 10 years, Family Service Association, the John E. Boyd Day Care Center, Hospice Outreach, Plymouth Bay Girl Scout Council, Temple Beth-El, and the Fall River Jewish Home. She is a former President of the Hebrew Ladies Helping Hand.

Accompanying her husband, she traveled extensively, visiting medical and educational facilities worldwide. She remained active in many organizations, but in recent years found more time to enjoy recreational activities with her husband and visit with her two grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her daughter; Linda Greer and her husband Mike Tilchin of Bethesda, Md., her brother; Daniel Clarich and his wife Eleanor, her grandchildren; Ross and Carla Tilchin, her daughter in law; Nancy Smith Greer, and her sister in law; Joyce Stern. She was the mother of the late Jeffrey Greer, and sister-in-law of the late M. Philip Greer.

In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree St, Fall River, Mass. 02720