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Beloved:

I share the sad news that the Rt. Rev. Richard Grein, 14th bishop of New York, died at home in Portland, Oregon last Tuesday morning.

His children spent his final week together with him and he was surrounded by people who loved him when he died.

Bishop Grein was elected as bishop coadjutor in 1988 and became bishop diocesan in 1989. He had formerly served as bishop of Kansas from 1981.

Richard Frank Grein was born in 1932 in Bemidji, MN to Lavina Frost and Ray Clausen. His parents divorced when he was young and he was later adopted by Lester Grein. He played football for Carleton College and was invited to try out for the then-Washington Redskins.

He became an associate of Holy Cross Monastery in West Park. He later pursued a masters degree in Pastoral Theology at Nashotah House.  Afterward, he served the Diocese of Minnesota as a priest in Elk River, where he co-founded Guardian Angels, a faith based senior care community. Prior to his 1981 election as bishop of Kansas, he taught at Nashotah House and served as a parish priest in Minnesota and Kansas.

In twelve years as bishop of New York he emphasized local ministry, creating Episcopal Charities and the congregational support plan. He also focused on financial stewardship of the diocese by creating the diocesan trustees and expanding the diocesan endowment. 

He renewed the permanent diaconate, ordaining the first of these deacons in 1993.

He was also committed to ecumenical relationships and strengthened connections with the Orthodox Church, with special support to the Russian Orthodox Church and a friendship with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

Bishop Grein focused on Anglican identity of liturgy and spirituality. 

Throughout his life he shared a deep connection with Benedictine spirituality. He told the New York Times when he was installed, ''I wish we could retrieve that spirituality with its sense of permanence and its love of creation.'' 

Bishop Grein made a big difference in my own life. I came to New York to help start Episcopal Charities in 1995. His love of Benedictine spirituality deeply shaped my own experience of a balanced life of faith.

He is survived by his children David, Margaret, Mary Leslie, & Sara; his former wife Joan Atkinson; and two half sisters, Barbara and Diane. He is predeceased by his second wife, the Rev. Anne F.C. Richards.  

Bishop Grein’s executive assistant, Gloria Fitzgerald, remained close to his family and continues her service on the diocesan staff.

In the next several days Gloria and I will receive Bishop Grein’s remains at the Cathedral. 

We will offer the prayers the Bishop had also undoubtedly used many times:  “Let us pray with confidence to God, the Giver of life, that God will raise him to perfection in the company of the saints.”

The Cathedral will host a memorial service in January.  We will gather with his family and the diocesan community whom he served as bishop.  

Please keep Richard Grein, his family, and our diocese in your prayers.  In lieu of flowers, his children request that gifts be made to Episcopal Charities of New York.

Grace & Peace,

The Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd

17th Bishop of New York