Dr. Russell M. Grieger II

Russ, native to Evansville, Indiana, was born on February 6, 1942 to the late Russell M. Grieger and Florence Grieger (Stofleth).

Russ began his adult life as a college basketball champion of Evansville College as one of the starting five of the Evansville Purple Aces. The Aces won two NCAA championships in 1963-64 and 1964-65, the 1965 season was undefeated. Russ then, charged by his success in basketball, went on to get a Ph.D. in Psychology from The Ohio State University. Russ, now Dr. Grieger, taught at The University of Virginia while working with the esteemed psychologist Albert Ellis, Ph.D. to develop a revolutionary new form of talk therapy known as Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). After teaching for nearly a decade, Russ opened his private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia. He dedicated the next forty years, along with his wife Patti, to teaching REBT, and touching the lives of thousands of people in need of guidance and support. Russ also founded an organizational consulting business, authored and co-authored eleven self-help books, journals, and hundreds of articles, culminating with his personal memoir, The Perfect Season.

Russ had a lifelong love for sports; he was an excellent golfer, ran in the New York City Marathon, and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame for his shooting guard position during the NCAA championships with the Evansville Purple Aces.

In Russ’ later years, he enjoyed his home in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with his loving wife and sons, and creative writing.

Russ leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife Patti Grieger (Amaio); two sons, Todd Grieger and his wife, Jaclyn, and Gabriel Grieger, and his partner Anna Simpson, his brother Gary, and his wife Marty, and numerous loved family members.

There will be a Celebration of Russ’ Life on Wednesday, April 10 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Teague Funeral Service, 2260 Ivy Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22903. Russ will be laid to rest at Monticello Memory Gardens in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Russ’ honor to The American Psychological Association or to the Center of Acute Hospice Care.