Mike Grier Remembrance

PRE-THANKSGIVING CEREMONY
You may recall that just before the Thanksgiving holiday I wrote, HERE, about the plan to unveil a plaque for my neighbor, Mike Grier, at Newport Harbor High School.  That ceremony took place on Thursday, November 20th, on the pool deck at the school.  You can read Matt Szabo's excellent account of that event from the Daily Pilot, HERE.  I wrote about Mike's passing HERE.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, TEAM MATES
Before a small gathering of family, friends, neighbors and team mates, Newport Harbor Athletic Director Mike Zimmerman unveiled the plaque honoring the memory of Michael Stanley Grier for his outstanding accomplishments as a water polo player, not only for Newport Harbor High School, but for his accomplishments in college at Pepperdine University and on the world scene.  A similar plaque will also be mounted inside Heritage Hall, and a scholarship will be created in Mike's name.

A WONDERFUL MAN REMEMBERED
Mike Grier was a neighbor of mine.  In fact, he was the very first person I saw the day we moved into our Eastside Costa Mesa neighborhood over 41 years ago.  I looked down the street as I was hauling stuff into the house from my car and saw this strapping young fellow in shorts and a t-shirt - a nice looking kid.  As it turns out, that was just about the time he began swimming and playing water polo.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER
Mike's father, Stan Grier, spoke to us briefly about his son and his life beyond water polo.  His daughter, Emma, shared her memories of her father.

 "THE BELL"...
Team mate John Layman told us about his recollections of Mike and shared with us the story of the bell he brought with him.  It was to be rung once each time a member of their championship team passed.  Layman pulled the cord and rang the bell in honor of Mike.

 FRIENDS...
Among those who attended was family friend Marian Bergeson, whose son, James, was a team mate and Mike Grier's best friend.  She is shown here with Mike's mother, Jane.

...AND LEGENDS

Also attending were John Dobrott, James Bergeson, and legendary coach Bill Barnett - all shown here with Layman.  As I looked at the signs around the pool deck displaying the names of so many great swimmers and water polo players I had to smile. 

HE WILL BE MISSED...
Mike Grier was a terrific athlete, a loving husband and father, devoted son and brother and a great friend.  He was a young man who reached the pinnacle of success as an athlete, was a successful businessman and a loyal friend.  He left us at age 51 - much too soon.  I'm proud to have known him and will miss him.

A Fine Young Man Remembered

REMEMBERING MIKE
I don't know how you spent your Saturday this glorious weekend, but my wife and I joined well over 100 other people to spend a big part of our day at a memorial service for a young neighbor.

A SAD REALITY
As I approach six dozen years on this earth it's not unusual to observe the passing of friends and neighbors.  Usually they have been friends or relatives my parent's age and some my age in increasing numbers.  It is especially sad, however, when we mark the passing of a person young enough to be my child.

A CHAMPION
Saturday a large group of family, friends, neighbors and teammates met to celebrate the life of Michael Stanley Grier, who may have been the greatest of many great water polo players to learn their skills at Newport Harbor High School.  Not only was Mike a terrific swimmer and water polo player at Newport Harbor, he went on to college and became one of the very best players in this country.

 (Mike is in the second row, second player from the right)

AND MORE...
Twice Mike was named the NCAA Most Valuable Player and he played for the United States on many national teams.  Do a Google search for Mike Grier+Water Polo to see much, much more about his career.

(Mike is front row, third from left)

A BETTER FRIEND
Saturday we sat and listened to some of his teammates and friends describe not only Mike the champion water polo player, but Mike, the friend.  We heard James Bergeson, his friend and teammate since they were twelve years old, describe how Mike - the gentle giant - transformed from an easy-going, always-smiling, fun-loving pal into the hardest playing, most dominant man in the pool.  He was described as a man with tremendous desire to win, with the skills and leadership to help his teammates to do just that.  He told us what it was like for two young fellas with remarkable skills who loved playing their sport and who just enjoyed each other's company.  He talked about how Mike led their team to a CIF championship, then went on to college where they competed against each other.

AND SHARED A DAUGHTER'S LOVE
And we listened as his young daughter, Emma, sang two songs dedicated to her father.  There were few dry eyes in the room...

A NEIGHBOR FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS
Mike Grier was the very first person I remember seeing the day my wife and I moved into our house almost 40 years ago.  He was eleven then and I recall noticing this nice looking, clean-cut young kid down the block.  That was just about the time he began his career in the pool, so we didn't see him often since he and his pals spent hours and hours in the pool, at least six days a week.  And, we lost track of him when he went off to college and then played water polo internationally.

(Mike is top row, third from the right)

MORE CONTACT LATELY
In recent years, though, Mike has been a regular presence again in our neighborhood as he would visit his parents frequently and only lived a few blocks away with his wife, Angela, and their daughter.  He's had a variety of careers since water polo, most recently a very successful dog training business.  From time to time we would just sit and chat about business and life. He was a happy, successful man and a loving husband and father.  And he was my friend.

A SIMPLE SCRATCH, THEN...
A few months ago, during the course of his business, he was scratched by one of the dogs, which led to an infection that his weakened immune system couldn't handle.  On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend - after six weeks battling his illness in intensive care at Hoag Hospital and a few days in another care facility -  that tenacious, brave, happy, loving man - a leader with the heart of a champion - passed away at 51 years of age.

EMMA'S WORDS

On the back cover of the program distributed to us at the memorial service Saturday was the following image created by his daughter.  During the service Emma told us that his father's favorite movie was "It's a Wonderful Life", and his favorite line from that movie was the one at the top of the image.  I think Emma got it right.  I will miss my young friend, but will rejoice at the impact he had on our community, on his sport and as a wonderful father, husband, son, brother and friend.