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John Greer Obituary
53 of Goodyear, passed away on May 26, 2012, while training for an ultramarathon on Mt. Humphreys in Flagstaff. John was a remarkable human being. He will be deeply missed by his wife Mary Zewicki Greer, sister Julie Gulden, brothers Ken Greer and Bill Greer, family members, friends, colleagues, and fellow runners. John was preceded in death by his parents Sandy and Jerry Greer of Minneapolis. John loved life in Arizona and settled in west Phoenix after graduating from the American Graduate School of International Business (Thunderbird) with an MBA in International Finance. John became a trusted real estate broker after successful careers as a trader at the Chicago Board of Options and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, an importer/exporter of precious stones, and an oil industry analyst in Houston. He also taught graduate-level finance for a local MBA program. John and Mary enjoyed good times in Madison where they met at the University of Wisconsin. As an avid ultramarathoner and triathlete, John competed in hundreds of races, from 5Ks to 100-milers. He was preparing for his tenth Leadville Trail 100 Run when he died. John was well-known as the founder and race director of the annual Cactus ChaCha Trail Runs. John will be remembered for his exceptional integrity, honesty, modesty, discipline, and friendship. He was respected by everyone fortunate enough to have known him. Humanity got lucky the day John Greer was born. Memorials preferred to: John Greer Memorial Fund, c/o White Tank Mountain Regional Park, PO Box 888, Avondale, AZ 85323. Services to be held in Phoenix at a later date.
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Memories and Condolences
for John Greer
Corena Jenkins
September 19, 2012
John the "running man" in our Palm Valley neighborhood who will be missed. Even today in the early mornings and evenings I and my boys picture him/see him running by our house. My family and I are still in disbelief we pray for your family loss and we share our condolences. Jenkins Family
September 16, 2012
Mary,
I came to this site after seeing you yesterday and learning of your profound loss. I know that the well written obituary portrays only a glimpse of the person your husband was. Please know you are in my thoughts in the days and months ahead.
Fondly,
Margie Hanson
Sue LeBarron
August 27, 2012
Mary,
I just found out about John's passing and I am shocked and saddened. It seems like yesterday when we were students in Madison. John was so healthy...I can't believe this happened. My deepest sympathies and condolences.
Rick Bradshaw
July 17, 2012
John introduced me to triathlons in 1988 while we were living in Presidential Towers,Chicago. He also brought a world of interesting ideas and many hours of soul (and sole...) searching discussion as we traveled to and participated in races around the mid-west. I'm devastated to find out how close John and Mary were to me (I'm in New Mexico) and I didn't know it, ...all those potential discussions lost. Definitely a huge loss for humanity. I'll be at the memorial..
Sharon Foley
July 16, 2012
I knew John when he lived at PT. He was an amazing athlete. We had many good discussions about nutrition and training. He used to run the Chicago marathon as a practice run for his ultras, which always blew us away. I never could get him to take one of my aerobic classe! He was a great guy, with a wonderful personality and a heart of gold. The world is a better place having had John in it. My deepest condolences to Mary and family. Rest in peace, John, I know your spirit is still running a race somewhere.
Mary Greer
July 15, 2012
A Memorial Service for John will be held on Sunday, August 5th at 2PM at the Nature Center, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ. Please join us to celebrate his life.
Gary Martin-Ranft
June 11, 2012
I met John when we lived in the same building in Chicago. He had a zest for health and fitness like no one else I have ever met. I will always remember him for the "Big Grin" on his face.
My deepest sympathy and condolances to Mary - My thoughts are with you.
Rick Nelson
June 11, 2012
I knew John from when he lived in Chicago. John was a good friend. No one loved long distance running like he did. If you had an interest in running, John would gently coax you to love running. He wanted others to get the sheer joy from running that he did. John was always planning for that next training session, running challenge or race. I have many life stories that I really cherish that involve John and running. Mary understood his passion for running and allowed him to be who he was. John was an original. I never met anyone else like him. I will miss John greatly. My wife Patty and I offer our sincerest condolences to Mary and John and Mary's extended family.
Jim Zemezonak
June 5, 2012
My deepest sympathy to Mary and his family. John and I were roommates freshman year at Madison. Great guy who turned me on to Springsteen and south side Johnny. As such he will have a place with me always
Marietta Tartaglia
June 5, 2012
Mary, on behalf of the OT Class of 2012, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. We are so deeply shocked to hear of this and pray for the closeness of family and friends to support you during this time.
Mark Willardson
June 4, 2012
I first met Greer as a freshman at UW-Madison and enjoyed many a great time together. We managed to keep in touch via our good friends Jim and Ann Gardner in Phoenix. Great shock to hear of his passing. My deepest condolences to Mary.
Bernice Garcia
June 4, 2012
My husband and I have participated in the cactus cha cha races since inception. The first time We met John was when I fractured my ankle in three places (on the competitive trail) and he along with others on the trail stopped to help carry me out of the riverbed. I was eventually airlifted out, but he stayed with me and my family until I was taken to the hospital. He was a great runner and race director, my family will miss his contribution to the running community. Bless the Greer family during this time and always.
Pat McKenzie
June 4, 2012
I still can't believe that John is gone from this world. What a great runner and human being. He was a friend to anyone that he met. I will miss seeing him in his red plaid flannel shirt. Can they do Leadville without John being there?
Dianna Morrow, CPA
June 4, 2012
John's zest for life was infectious. He was an inspiration and I will miss his visits to the office. He had such a great business insight and his pulse to the happenings around the Valley. My deepest sympathies to the entire Greer family.
Tony J
June 4, 2012
This comes as a huge loss to me, as John reminded me why trail running… that's it Why. Always happy and helpful, and we did not really know him, but he knew us.
Please come join us for a run this Saturday 6-9-12 morning at 7am at the trail he showed to us, this is a great time to gather as a running family and remember John. The trail is the competition trail at the end of the road in the White Tank Mountains, when the road ends and goes down into the little gully, you are almost there, keep going :D
Even if you don't want to run, come out and just hang out in the beautiful desert before it gets too warm. We are going to bring a couple of watermelons to share.
Kat Myers
June 3, 2012
Deepest sympathies to Mary and John's entire family. John was funny, kind, welcoming and warm hearted. May you rest in peace.
June 3, 2012
John, friend and collegue, rip ,know you'll be running all over heaven..
Yolanda Carrier
David Bluestein
June 3, 2012
John had a health spark for living life the fullest. It was our honor to meet him, to enjoy his sense of humor and good graces, and to learn trail running through the Cactus Cha Cha. When my wife Kristy moved here from China, we ran the Cha Cha and she was introduced to the Sonoran desert, thanks to John. He will be sorely missed, and we both share our condolences.
Steve Carples
June 3, 2012
What a loss of someone with so much more to give and do! Our sincerest sympathies to the entire family. Love - Steve & Joan Carples
June 3, 2012
RIP John
June 3, 2012
John will be missed greatly by the running community. Personally I will miss seeing him at races. We ran about the same pace and shared playful competitiveness that I will surly miss.
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