Christopher Arthur Li Greci

As he grew, his days were filled with new cousins, aunts and uncles and family members, all of whom Chris cherished throughout his life. He loved his heritage and his native Brooklyn. Chris grew up in Gravesend, Brooklyn. He was baptized and confirmed at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church and attended Mass there regularly with his parents. After attending parochial elementary and junior high school, Chris went to Brooklyn Preparatory School, the Jesuit High School in Brooklyn, where he met people who would be his friends for life. One of his teachers at Brooklyn Prep, Charlie Winans, introduced Chris to St. Michael’s Russian Catholic Church and its spirituality so moved him that he remained a parishioner for the rest of his life. Later, Chris was ordained to the Diaconate in 1988 by Bishop Anargyros Printezis of the Greek Catholic Church of Greece. Chris was elevated to the rank of Protodeacon in 2009 by Cardinal Egan of the Archdiocese of NYC.

After graduating from Brooklyn Prep, Chris attended the School of Pharmacy at Fordham University, but discovered that pharmacology was not for him. He transferred to NYU from which he graduated with a degree in English and became a teacher. After a short stint at a Catholic School on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Chris became a New York City public school English teacher at Mark Twain Junior High School for the Gifted and Talented. He was loved and respected by his colleagues and students. He retired after 30 years of teaching. He did not stay retired for long.Chris taught Adult Literacy Program at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library two days a week for fifteen years until his health problems forced him to stop.

Chris fought several cancers, a stroke and pulmonary fibrosis which required a lung transplant in 2013. For the last three years Chris has had to undergo dialysis treatments three times a week.

Chris is survived by Bob, his life partner for over 50 years whom he met on jury duty and with whom he shared a home, many friends and extensive travels throughout the years. Bob was Chris’s dedicated caregiver and was at his bedside when he died.

Chris is also survived by many cousins and family members.

Chris was loved and held in high esteem by Clergy and parishioners at St. Michael’s Russian Catholic Church and many other Byzantine Catholic Churches.

A wake and Litya for the Dead will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Joseph G. Duffy Funeral Home, 255 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY

A Funeral and Panychida Service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 11 am at the Melkite Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary, 216 8th Ave., Brooklyn, NY. Burial at Greenwood Cemetery and Meal of Mercy at Church of the Virgin Mary will follow.