Richard "Rick" Greenhouse, MVP

April 5, 2022, marked 30 years since the untimely death of my dear, fun loving uncle, Richard "Rick" Barry Greenhouse. He was just 42 when he died of Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP. He was arguably our family's MVP and it was a cruel twist of fate given his love of sports and daily fitness regimen. I was nine at the time. I’ll never forget hearing the shocking and tragic news, awaiting my dad’s return from work so my mom could tell him, then witnessing his gut wrenching reaction. Our family was devastated, especially my grandparents, who were never the same.??

Rick may have died young, but he was quite accomplished; an important reminder to make the most of the time we have. He was born in 1949 in Perth Amboy, NJ. In 1965, Rick had the highest GPA in his Sophomore class at Perth Amboy High School. When he graduated high school, he earned the fourth highest average. He won the French Prize for the highest four year departmental average and the 1st Annual Henry Dane Varsity Baseball Award. He also lettered in basketball, was co-Sports Editor of the school yearbook, and a member of The National Honor Society. To say he was well rounded was an understatement.

In 1971, Rick received a BA in Sociology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. He spent his summers as Division Head of a YMHA overnight camp and Program Director of a teen-tween travel camp. Upon graduation, he was inducted to the National Romance Language Honor Society, Phi Sigma Iota. Later, his brilliant Senior Honors Sociology Project was cited in a sociology textbook.

In 1972, received a MS in Psychological Services Education at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, he served as Residence Adviser in an undergraduate dormitory on an academic stipend. He was also selected as a member of Phi Delta Kappa, an honor society for professional educators.?

After graduate school, Rick went on to work at Interboro High School in PA, hist first and only job held for nearly 20 years until his passing. This included roles as Guidance Counselor and Sophomore Class Adviser. These positions earned him great respect by faculty and students alike. An article he wrote entitled: “Mini Courses During Study Hall: A Counselor-Implemented Curricular Advance” was published in a professional magazine.

There was much more to Rick than academics and sports. My grandparents instilled in him a dedication to community service, to look out for the underdog, and acknowledge others for their contributions, however big or small. He was also taught about how critical good communication and organization skills are to every aspect of our personal and professional lives. With these values, he took great pride in his participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters, at which he was a five year mentor for a boy who lost his father, and for The March of Dimes, where he assisted with Walk-A-Thon and Haunted House fundraising projects.?

Although he had many passions, family was Rick’s number one priority. As an adult, he honored and celebrated the lives of his ancestors with a book he wrote, edited, and published entitled: “A Greenhouse Family History: From Its Roots to Its Branches.” This wonderful compilation contains many photos and a detailed tree, tracing our family's history through five generations. It was a remarkable endeavor, especially in the pre-internet era. Each Hanukkah, he led our traditional gift exchange with his own set of guidelines, ensuring everyone received a gift, never two in a row to the same person, and that the recipient had enough time to unwrap it and thank the gift giver before the next one was distributed.??????

In the months after his passing in 1992, my grieving grandparents wanted to do their own meaningful distribution. It came in the form of an award and tree planting at the school at which Rick worked his entire career. Given his impressive academic achievements and school spirit, it is with great pride at the end of each school year, our family presents the Richard B. Greenhouse Memorial Award to the Interboro High School Sophomore with the highest GPA. The recipient receives their name on the school's plaque, an award letter which includes Rick’s biography, as well as a certificate, personal note, and check. ‘Til then, let’s all take a page out of Rick’s playbook from his short but impactful life: focus on your MVPs, yourself included, and make the most of each day.

Sara Greenhouse?is a dynamic connector and dedicated relationship cultivator. After a successful track record in fundraising, she founded a marketing company,?Generate Buzz, LLC, in 2013. Using her superior verbal and written communication skills, the company provides a unique, cross-disciplinary integration of traditional and digital marketing. The name Generate Buzz is much more than simply a brand name; it declares Sara's passion to help small businesses achieve greater success and promote positive social change. Generate Buzz, LLC offers per diem consulting in copywriting: persuasive, creative, and comedy, as well as editing and proofing services. You can rest assured that your message will be tailored to your collateral materials and social media platforms, conveying the right message, to the right audience, through the right channels, at the right time, all with the utmost integrity and enthusiasm.

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