Eager volunteer Greenler named Irishman of Year

By Yadira Betances Muldoon
MethuenLife Writer

At the Hibernians, Mike Greenler is known as the first person to volunteer whenever there’s something to be done.
For that reason and much more, Greenler will receive the Irishman of the Year Award from Division 8 Ancient Order of Hibernians on March 1 at the Lawrence Lodge of Elks.

“The Irishman of the Year Award is the highest award Division 8 can bestow on a member,” said President Bill Sullivan. “Mike’s the perfect candidate. He’s very active in our organization and whenever we need help, he steps right up.”

When Sullivan called him to tell him he was selected, Greenler said no.

“It’s too humbling, too overwhelming. I’m just a volunteer, there are so many other people who deserve it more than me,” he said.

In addition to the Hibernians, Greenler is a trustee at the Lawrence Lodge of Elks. He and Katie Darwin were instrumental in having the Elks host the Hibernians when the Irish organization lost its meeting place.

Greenler joined the Hibernians about 15 years ago to connect with his Irish roots and after reading about Irish history.

“It’s important to keep the history alive because otherwise it will be lost and that would be very sad,” Greenler said.

His grandfather was born in Newtown Hamilton in County Armagh, Ireland, and he came to the United States during the potato famine. Greenler remembers hearing the stories and has visited the motherland five times.

“I visited his farm and felt the memories pouring over us,” he said.

Greenler, 74, was born on a farm in Boxford. He graduated from North Andover High School and attended Merrimack College for two years. He was a religious brother with the Jesuits for 23 years teaching physics and electronics 15 of those years at Boston College High School and at a Jesuit missionary school in Kingston, Jamaica. He later worked as a radiology electrician.

In addition to the Hibernians, Greenler is a trustee at the Elks. He is a parishioner of St. Monica where Greenler is active with the Knights of Columbus.

He is married to Mildred Greenler, who was a nun with the Sisters of Charity of New Jersey. They met at Perdue University while they were both working on their master’s degrees. Mildred taught physics and chemistry at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.