Sue Eckhart Greer

GREER Sue Eckhart Greer, September 4, 1931 to December 5, 2012. Sue was an amazing woman who led a spectacular life. She was raised by a single mother, Alice Worley Eckhart and has two brothers; Henry (Claudine) and Jay "Pete" (Millicent) Eckhart. They grew up on Indiana Ave and she graduated from University High School. While attending the Ohio State University, she was a member of Alpha Phi fraternity. She graduated with a degree in Social Work in 1953. Alpha Phi was always an important part of her life, in the late 1960's she was the chapter advisor and in the 1970's she was a District Governor. And until this past year she was active with the Alpha Phi alumni group. At the heart of all Sue did was the philosophy of giving back to her community. She served on several boards including, Children's Hospital/Twig and the Childhood League. She was also active in Democrat politics, working to elect many candidates including Sen. John Glenn. In 1969 she led the fight for equality for girl's sports, before title IX, in Upper Arlington schools. And when her only son, Michael Howard Greer (1956 to1986), was diagnosed with AIDS, she was the first to speak out in support for fair and equitable treatment for people living with HIV. She became a mom to many living with AIDS and in 1991 she received the highest award from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for her work. And in 2001 Stonewall Columbus honored her as one of the 20 Most Influential People in the Central Ohio for her contributions to the gay community. A strong supporter of the Columbus Foundation, she started the Worley Fund to support the work of Pediatric AIDS at Nationwide Children's Hospital. This fund is named in honor of her grandfather, Henry Worley, who served on Columbus City Council from 1921-1931 and was Mayor of Columbus from 1932-1935. From 1975-2009, Sue divided her time between her homes in Upper Arlington, Ohio and Naples, FL, where she was an anchor for OSU alumni convening them often to watch football games. She did a lot over the decades to build a community feeling among the many Ohioans who migrated there. Including Friday lunches at Harold's Place - known to all as the "Chickie". Over the years she had several nicknames; she was Toots to her B-S'er friends; Big Diamond Sue to her Naples bridge boys, but she will always be remembered as "Sweet Sue" to most. But it didn't matter how you knew her, she was a loving friend, a fierce ally and an incredible mother. She was uncommonly generous to so many people who will keep her spirit alive in their own acts of kindness and charity. Her daughter, Lynn Greer, and partner, Stephanie Walton, returned to Columbus last spring to provide daily care for Sue. She was surrounded by family and friends in her Columbus home of more than 53 years when she passed away. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 21, 2012 at the SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Road with Father Dan Millisor, officiating, where the family will have a reception immediately following the service, until 1:30 p.m. Private family interment. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation; ARC - Ohio (formally the Columbus AIDS Task Force) or Alpha Phi Fraternity. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share a memory or to send a condolence.