Courtesy Photo Ed Grezlak left a legacy of giving to the Alpena community.

ALPENA — Sharing stories of giving and gratitude is a cherished Christmas tradition. Whether it’s in a movie, carol or story, the theme consistently comes to the forefront during the holiday season. We are again reminded of the legacy of Ed Grezlak and his impact on our community.

Grezlak was the youngest of five children, born May 2, 1930 into a farming family residing in Leer. He was a hard worker, never missing a day of school or work in his entire life. He was frugal and saved much of what he earned, often using his free time to volunteer at various charities such as the Friendship Room or with the Alpena Shriners.

He also gave generously both in time and financially to the First United Methodist Church, and the Leer Lutheran Church and Museum. When he passed at the age of 91, he left a majority of his estate to MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, Alpena Community College, the City of Alpena, Alpena Senior Citizen Center, and the Alpena Shriners. Through his generosity and vision, Grezlak improved access to higher education, health care, and the senior community, in addition to enhancing City Hall, ensuring a new Alpena Shriners parade float and offering funding for other Shriners expenses.

The generosity of Grezlak came from a genuine love for his community with an emphasis on health and education, while also supporting the church of his youth and heritage, and his current church. To share this spirit with his community was extremely generous and as we enter this Christmas season, we reflect on how this generosity and vision has impacted the organizations in Alpena.

In 1891, well before Grezlak was born, Alpena built their first high school on White Street. The school later became a junior high before falling into disrepair and ultimately being demolished in 1999. Grezlak saw great potential in this land and purchased it. He then began designing and building what can only be described as a truly magnificent house with three stories and over 10,000 square feet — a very large house for one man. But he never fully saw this house as purely “his.” He purchased the land because historically it was “educational property.” His goal was always to honor the legacy of the long-gone school building and its many students. He did so in 2018, prior to his passing, by donating his beautiful home to MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena to house medical students studying rural medicine at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. The enormity of this gift is hard to understate. Providing a beautiful home close to the downtown gives these students the opportunity to see the very best Alpena has to offer. The Medical Residency program, which is administered by Alcona Health Center in partnership with MyMichigan Health, assists in encouraging future providers to consider practicing in a rural setting. Most recently, both graduates from the first residency program have stayed in and are currently working as physicians in the Alpena area.

Education was important to Grezlak as he was growing up and after the death of his beloved sister, Jennie, he wished to honor her memory. During her life, Jennie had been dedicated to her career as a teacher. Grezlak deeply admired this about her and decided to create a scholarship for students pursuing a degree in elementary education. He did so by working with Alpena Community College and the Alpena Community College Foundation. Grezlak had never gone to college himself, so seeing how his sister’s scholarship changed student’s lives was very impactful for him. This led him to bequeathing funds for four additional scholarships. The scholarships now help students studying concrete technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and nursing. In addition, ACC was also the beneficiary of over $1 million for building and capital projects. This money was used shortly after his death to fund the renovation of ACC’s welding lab and the relocation of its manufacturing lab. The new labs contain state-of-the-art equipment that offers students the most current equipment and technology preparing them to be successful in their careers.

Having grown up during the Depression, Grezlak understood the importance of working together to ensure one another’s well-being both in his younger years on the farm and in his later life. Grezlak had several dedicated friends who regularly took him grocery shopping, to doctor appointments and generally kept him in good company. But he knew other seniors weren’t so lucky. He also left a substantial gift to the Alpena Senior Citizens Center for future capital projects. The gift has been set aside for the renovation of one of the most important rooms of the center — its kitchen. The senior center prepares and then provides over 350 free meals to seniors throughout our area each day. The kitchen is crucial to their work, and with Alpena’s aging population, having access to a central place with food, activities and events is important for our senior community’s health and wellbeing.

Grezlak’s generosity has shaped Alpena currently and will continue to do so for years to come. Grezlak is the unseen and unsung philanthropist for many vital projects that have and will continue to improve the welfare of our residents. As we reflect on our community, its future and how we can assist others, let’s remember Grezlak and his vision for the betterment of others. His generosity is a true Christmas blessing.