A Brief Memorial for Dwight Grieser

For those that remember Dwight Grieser as a teacher at Concord during the early 1970s I offer a brief memorial.

   At the site of the College Mennonite Church on the campus of Goshen College there is a memorial circular walk way. On a wall of the building there are plaques named after deceased folk. One such is for Dwight Grieser.

   I have two distinct memories of Mr. Grieser.

1. I had first come from Detroit in 1969. During those days at Concord we had clubs at the end of the day. I had registered for “Leisure Club”. This was a club where folk played chess, cards, board games and such. Being new to Concord, I had not yet developed friends. Mr. Grieser came by and asked why I was not playing. I responded “I don’t know who to join.”

Mr. Grieser said “Well, you better figure something out or you will have to leave.”

I would have been content watching others play while I observed the social interactions of those involved in playful competition. But, since I did not want to try to find another club, I thrust myself into a card game. I remember Deb Pinkerton being helpful explaining the rules of the game.

   2.The other memory I have of Mr. Grieser was his advice of choosing a wife. While in Social Studies class, Central building, he offered…”Boys, if you want to know what your girlfriend will look like in twenty to thirty years, take a good look at her mother. That will be a good indication.”

   Why he felt it useful to offer such advice during Social Studies I don’t know. But I always received his advice with a twist of humor.

I wonder what advice he would have given the girls.

My wife, Sherry Borglum, stands by the memorial wall