Dana Greeley, Early Unitarian President, Dies
The Rev. Dana McLean Greeley, the first president of the Unitarian Universalist Assn., died Friday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 77.
“Unitarian Universalism and the religious world in general have lost a giant,” said Dr. William Schultz, current president of the small, fiercely independent group known for its liberal ideals. The group is based on Boston’s Beacon Hill.
In 1961, Greeley, then president of the American Unitarian Assn., presided over its merger with the Universalists and became the first president of the new denomination. Greeley, who was active in the church for more than 60 years, was known for his strong stand on many ethical issues.
Greeley, born in Lexington, Mass., was educated at Harvard. The last 16 years of his ministry were spent at the First Parish in Concord, Mass.
Greeley is the author of several books, including “Toward Larger Living,” “A Message to Atheists” and “Know These Concordians.”
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