Former Athlete Spotlight
Donald Griebner |
Q & A with Donald Griebner
UB Baseball – 1977-80
BA-1981-Social Sciences
MBA-1983-School of Management
How do you feel that your experiences as a student-athlete at the University at Buffalo prepared you for life after college?
“My student-athlete experience at U.B inspired me to do my best and that certainly helped prepare me for life after college. The academic side of U.B. is obviously outstanding, and playing Division 1 baseball at the same time was a tremendous opportunity to challenge myself. I had tremendous respect for both my professors and my coach, Bill Monkarsh, and I learned many life lessons from them. When I coach my son’s little league team today, I have to smile when I hear Coach Monkarsh’s words come out of my mouth. Our teachers and coaches are more influential on our lives than we realized at the time, and that’s very positive.”
What does your connection with the BLOCK B Letter Winners Association mean to you?
“BLOCK B is a great way for me to stay connected not only with my teammates, but also with the entire U.B. Athletics family. The programs and facilities at U.B. have grown so much, it is an honor to remain a part of it. I really appreciate that U.B. has invited its former athletes back in such a welcoming and appreciative way. BLOCK B is like a big family that keeps growing every year. I’m proud to be part of it.”
Donald Griebner |
As a BLOCK B member, what would you suggest/recommend to other former student-athletes who have yet to join this elite group of supporters?
“I am a huge BLOCK B supporter and cheerleader, and I recommend it to my teammates and all former athletes. It’s a great way to reconnect with old friends, and most important it keeps alive our wonderful memories and traditions. It was a great time in our lives when we were student-athletes, and BLOCK B gives us a chance to re-live those wonderful experiences.”
What was your most memorable moment/event as a UB student-athlete?
“I have so many wonderful memories from UB that it’s hard to pick just one. I was fortunate to play on great teams during my four years, and with three of the best ballplayers ever to come out of U.B., or out of Western New York for that matter (Joe Hesketh, Dennis Howard and Patti Raimondo). But the greatest single memory has to be when we went on our southern trip my senior year and we beat the no. 2 ranked team in the country, the University of Miami, 2-1. Coach Monkarsh told us just before the game that Miami was planning an on-field celebration after the game to honor their coach for his 600th career win. It was pretty sweet when they were forced to postpone it. We ended that year within one out of going to the College World Series…. As I said, great memories that need to be preserved.”
Don Griebner is currently President and Owner of Real Property Services, LLC, located in Williamsville, NY. He and his wife of 25 years, Andrea, have two children. Their daughter Jamie is a first-year law student at Suffolk Law School in Boston, and son Jake is a sophomore at Williamsville North High School.
Don has been active for many years in support of UB, and in particular, UB Baseball. He coaches little league baseball, likes to golf, and make road trips to Major League Baseball games.