Obituary of Michael Neil Greiner

What's the correct way to pronounce pinochle? Who was the starting quarterback for the Redskins in 1989? What did you eat for dinner last Tuesday, or on your 47th birthday? Who really holds the power at the end of The Merchant of Venice? Michael Greiner would know the answer. Michael Neil Greiner was born in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam on September 7th, 1963. He grew up in Vienna, Virginia with his father, mother, and three younger brothers. He was a proud graduate of James Madison High School, class of 1981, where he was given the superlatives (to no one's surprise) of Best Leader, Most Involved, and Best Speaker. He continued his education at the University of Virginia, where he studied English, Religious Studies, and History. After his graduation in 1986, he worked various jobs until he saw an ad in a newspaper for English teachers in Costa Rica, made a few calls, and was hired mid-year to teach English for two years while earning his Masters in Education. He came back to the States and began working in Fairfax County in 1991. Michael and his wife-to-be, Khristie Schultz, met at a mutual friend's birthday party in the spring of 1992. Michael remembered seeing Khristie dancing a few months later and told his children afterwards that "time and everyone else in the room seemed to slow down, and God said, 'this one.'" He proposed to Khristie after the Easter Vigil Mass on April 11th, 1993, and they were married on August 7th, 1993. The couple had their first two children, girls, and then moved from their townhouse in Burke to their home in South Riding, Virginia while expecting a boy in 1999. Michael accepted a position to open Westfield High School as part of the English faculty in 2000. In 2003, one more girl made them a family of six, and for the next dozen years, Michael and his family could be found at the pools in South Riding for summer swim team, on the basketball courts at Mercer Middle School, serving the community at St. Veronica's Catholic Church, watching concerts and games at Freedom High School, and swimming at the beach in Bethany, DE, with extended family. Michael spent most of his time reading whatever he could get his hands on, calling Sports Talk 980 as "Mike from Loudoun" and offering opinions on various Washington sports teams, grading papers, making trips down to the University of Virginia to visit his two eldest daughters and cheer on the Hoos, reading to his children, conversing with everyone and anyone, teaching someone to drive or to correct his or her grammar, dancing to Irish music, quoting Monty Python, Shakespeare, or the Bible, volunteering to help anyone in need, or making a speech (audience optional). On Saturday, March 19th, 2016 Michael experienced sudden cardiac arrest while delivering mulch with his son's Ranger troop and lost consciousness. Despite constant prayers and a valiant effort by the Rangers, doctors, and nurses, he never regained consciousness and passed away on March 26th, 2016, the Easter Vigil, surrounded by his family. Michael joins his father, Jerome William Greiner, in death. He is survived by his mother, Virginia Keating Greiner, and his three brothers, Nicholas, Justin, and Jeremy. He is also survived by his wife, Khristie Schultz Greiner, and his four children, Mary Kathrynne (21), Gabriella Grace (20), Gregory Peter (16) and Rebecca Madeleine (12). He is loved by all and will be greatly missed. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" 2 Tim 4: 7-8