Marina Griner

Marina Griner, 98, of Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 13 at Westminster Village North.

She was born March 15, 1918, in Pisa, Italy, to Paolino Jem and Giovanna Bertoli, the oldest of four sisters, who preceded her in death.  She has proudly and gratefully lived in the US since 1956. A lifelong poet and accomplished librarian, she excelled in her studies of Italian, Greek and Latin literature at the Liceo Classico and at the University of Pisa, and earned a Master of Arts in Library Science at Indiana University.

Marina married her childhood sweetheart, Carlo Bolognesi, 1916 – 1944, a pilot in the Italian Air Force.  They had a son, Dani, born in 1941. In one horrific year, Marina lost her husband, father and sister.  She relied on the loving support of her mother and younger sisters to care for Dani as she found work to sustain the fragile family. She met U.S. Army Sergeant David Griner, Broxton, Georgia, 1920 – 1966, stationed in the Friuli region with the US forces.  David felt the welcome of her family, and their daughter, Caterina Cregor Blitzer, was born in Trieste, Italy.

The young family lived in Italy, Austria and Germany before transfer to the U.S.  Marina began her library career in 1961 at the United States Army Information School Library, Fort Slocum, New York. She transferred to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, with the Defense Information School, in 1965.  Marina’s contagious love of knowledge and skills in information management resulted in her successful efforts to consolidate the Academic, Post and Technical Libraries at Fort Harrison.  She created a children’s corner, complete with a puppet theatre, that was the site for memorable children’s story hours featuring guest performers, including the 74th Army Band. A member of the Special Libraries Association, she was an active contributor at conferences around the U.S. She became active in Toastmasters International to continue improving, and inspired family and colleagues to hone communication skills. Upon the closing of Fr. Harrison and her resultant reluctant retirement at age 78, she had received numerous awards for her three decades of meritorious service.

Teaching her beloved mother tongue, Italian, became an encore career and brought her devoted students who became lifelong friends. Marina lived independently until 2013, with her beloved tuxedo cat Marina, growing an abundance of flowers, grapes, vegetables, and pomodori. She was enthusiastically present for the successes, shows and births of her growing family of grand children and great grandchildren.

Her memory is kept vibrant by son Dani Paolo Bolognesi, Ph.D. (Sarah), Durham, NC, daughter Caterina Cregor Blitzer (Herb), Indianapolis; grandson James Carlo Bolognesi (Jennifer) of Durham, NC; grandson Michael Paul Bolognesi, M.D. (Kelly) of Durham NC; grandson Matthew Marshall Cregor, Esq. (Rebecca Kiley, Esq.) of Boston, MA; granddaughter Lauren Marina Cregor Devine, (Jeff) of Long Island City, NY; step granddaughter Maureen Blitzer (Bruce Marrett) of Le Roy, NY; step grandson Jonathan Blitzer of San Francisco, CA; step granddaughter Amy Blitzer (Michele Nyman) of Milwaukee, WI; great granddaughters Sarah and Mia Bolognesi, Marina and Julia Bolognesi, Helen and Lina Kiley Cregor and Stella Caterina Devine and great grandsons John Paul Bolognesi and Maxwell Cosmo Devine; and step great grandsons Tristan Swedish and Ian and Colin Marrett and cousins, niece and nephews in Italy.

The family is grateful to Marina’s physician, Dr. Norman Fogle, and his staff, and nurses and caregivers at Westminster Village North, St. Francis Hospice and ComforCare. 

A memorial Mass will take place at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church at 9:30 on Saturday, September 10, 2016. Gathering for family and friends immediately following at George’s Neighborhood Grill, 6935 Lake Plaza Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46220 

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 4100 East 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220 or to the Westminster Foundation, Inc., 11050 Presbyterian Drive, Indianapolis, 46236. Arrangements are entrusted to Usher Funeral Home. Online condolences may be offered at usherfuneralhome.com 

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