By MATT CHANDLER
Buffalo Law Journal

More than 1,200 colleagues, relatives, friends and former students filled the UB Center for the Arts Tuesday afternoon to honor former University at Buffalo President William Greiner, who died Dec. 19 at the age of 75.

Greiner, who served as the university's 13th president from 1991 to 2004, was remembered as a man who dedicated his career to UB and went above and beyond his responsibilities to leave a lasting impact on the university and the Buffalo area.

In a phone interview, Buffalo attorney and UB Law School graduate Francis Letro remembered Greiner as a powerful mentor and leader.

"He was a major influence on not only my career, but on countless UB graduates whose careers were made possible by him," Letro said. "He was a remarkable man who was brilliant, but also had a great sense of humility and humanity."

Letro credited Greiner with guiding and encouraging generations of judges, private-practice lawyers and public-sector lawyers during his four decades as a faculty member, provost and president at UB.

"What was remarkable to me about him was that he was a kid from Connecticut who was a scholarship winner to prestigious private schools - to Wesleyan University, to Yale Law School - but he chose a career path in public education and spent 42 years at UB," Letro said. "He had countless opportunities to go elsewhere to private schools, but he committed himself to public education, I think in recognition of the value of pubic education to middle-class families."

Former UB president and current University of Southern California President Steven Sample, under whom Greiner served as provost, cited his former colleague's commitment to athletics at the university as a lasting part of his legacy. It was a point that was tangible among the crowd as members of the UB Bulls track team arrived in their warm-up suits and members of the women's basketball team were in attendance to pay respects to a man credited with taking UB athletics to a higher level.

"A previous speaker gave me credit for bringing interscholastic athletics to UB during my time," Sample said. "But it was really Bill Greiner that made it work."

Jeremy Jacobs, chairman of the UB Council, announced to the crowd that a new residence hall scheduled to open in fall 2011 would be named the William R. Greiner Residence Hall. A large beam that will be used in the construction of the hall was on display, and mourners were encouraged to sign it in remembrance of Greiner.

Current UB President John Simpson cited the countless faculty, staff and students who benefitted from Greiner's mentoring.

"Reminders of Bill's leadership and vision are everywhere, from the research center and academic programs he launched to the major buildings that changed the face of the campus," Simpson told the crowd.

In one of the most emotional moments of the afternoon, Greiner's four children took the stage to remember their father.

Greiner's son Terrance recalled the affectionate side of his father, who often insisted on displays of affection that at the time embarrassed him and his siblings.

"He was a great man," Terrance Greiner said, "and a better father."