John Greden (Sponsors Bob Mull and Ingrid Sheldon)
John is originally a Minnesota guy graduating from Rollingstone High School, attending St. Mary’s University in Winona before transferring to the University of Minnesota for undergraduate work and his Medical Degree. He interned in pediatrics at UCLA but returned to Minneapolis for his first year of psychiatry Residency finishing his graduate work through the Army ending as Director of Psychiatric Research and Chief, Officers’ Psychiatry Inpatient Service at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D. C.
He joined the other UM (University of Michigan) in July, 1974 as an assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Medical School and Chief of the Acute Psychiatry Inpatient Program. He is currently the Rachel Upjohn Professor of Psychiatry in Clinical Neurosciences Active Emeritus.
John chaired the Department of Psychiatry from 1985 to 2007 and worked very hard to found and then direct the U of M Comprehensive Depression Center in 2002 now named the Eisenberg Family Depression Center. He has much passion about the critical need and potential for depression centers that he became the Founding Director of a National Network of 27 such centers which share research and treatment strategies with their respective patient communities.
His very long CV provides much testimony to his contributions towards mental health research and community service. He continues to serve as a Research Professor of Molecular and Behavioral Neurosciences Institute, Active Emeritus here at the U. He has served on advisory committees for many pharmaceutical companies and has presented many papers to national and international science communities.
But I got to know the fun side of John and his family when they first came to Ann Arbor in 1974 since they then lived around the corner from me like they currently live down the street from Bob. The Thurston Elementary School sponsored the Thurston Players which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, and John joined the first group of writers to create the original plays and lyrics which his wife, Renee, and I danced and sang to across the Clague stage. Then there were lots of years of tennis at Huron Valley Tennis Club. He added golf and now pickleball, thanks to main Rotary sponsor Bob, to his personal athletic endeavors. And, of course, after soooooo many years in Ann Arbor, John is an AVID University of Michigan sports fan
John Greden is eager to work with Rotary on issues of community mental health care, stigma reduction and suicide prevention, all issues very important to our club and its members. He will be a wonderful addition to our club.
Derek Jankowski (Sponsor: Barbara Eichmuller)
Derek grew up in Redford MI and attended Michigan State. After graduation he moved to Austin TX, then to New York for his wife Jes’s graduate education, then to Los Angeles and back to Michigan because they wanted their children to grow up around family.
Derek and Jes love Ann Arbor because it is so beautiful and family friendly – they hope to make this their forever home. Derek plays golf when he can get out on the links, but admits to being extremely bad at it.
Derek and Jes along with 4-year-old daughter Lulu are awaiting the arrival of a yet unnamed baby boy due on May 4th. They are an active family that likes to do things outdoors including going to the playground in all kinds of weather. They spend Friday evenings at Biercamp during summer and started a neighborhood dinner club.
Derek’s community activities include serving on the board of Apple Playschools, a nonprofit daycare where Lulu attends. He was also a Big Brother for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
He is interested in finding out more about Rotary committee opportunities, especially Membership but will wait until the new baby is born before jumping in with both feet.
Lastly, in an earlier introduction Derek asked me to mention that he is a fun person to be around, and we all know Rotarians love fun people!
Jon Strite (Sponsors: Bob Mull, Roy More and John White)
Jon is a blue blood townie. He grew up in the Platt Packard area. He and his dad watched Michigan basketball at Yost Arena.
He attended Ann Arbor public schools K through 12, including Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron graduating in 1976. Jon was a 4-year letter winner in cross country and track and field and was the first freshman to letter at Huron High. Jon recently was inducted into the River Rat Hall of Fame.
Jon is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and has a masters from the University of Michigan.
He retired from the Ann Arbor public schools in 2020 after 43 years of coaching and teaching. His last 35 years were at Slauson Middle School teaching physical education and coaching a variety of sports, especially cross country and track and field.
Jon and his wife Jan have been married for 36 years, have two sons Don and Mark, and one grandchild. He is an avid fan of all Michigan sports. They enjoy travel, musical theater, and are avid pickleball players.
Bob and Jon are the founding members of the Mary Lou Murray Recreation Center Monday Wednesday, and Friday 6 am pickleball group of about 25 likewise avid players. Bob predicts Jon will be an outstanding Rotarian.
