Nicholas G. Greaves, a former Blue Cross-Blue Shield official who was a supporter of Senior Olympics, died Oct. 20 from complications of dementia and cancer at Hart Heritage Estate in Street.

The Bel Air resident was 76.

The son of Thompson Greaves, a career military officer, and Mildred Lucille Daniels Greaves, a homemaker, Nicholas George Greaves was born in Minneapolis. Because of his father’s career, the family moved several times. He was a 1959 graduate of Pemberton High School in Pemberton, N.J.

He served in the Army from 1961 to 1964. “He was a sports editor and served in Hawaii. Real rough duty,” his wife of 51 years, the former Mary Lynn Keene, said with a laugh.

In 1965, he moved to Baltimore and went to work as manager of public relations for Blue Cross-Blue Shield. He received a bachelor’s degree during the 1970s from the Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. Greaves advanced through the Blue Cross-Blue Shield ranks, from manager to director. At the time he was named vice president, he was the youngest in that role in the organization, family members said.

He was dedicated to the Senior Olympics, and Blue Cross-Blue Shield became a major sponsor. He was inducted into the Maryland Senior Olympics Hall of Fame.

In 1988, Mr. Greaves left Blue Cross-Blue Shield and became president of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce. In 1996, he was named president of the Better Business Bureau of Maryland, from which he retired in 2006.

He had been an active member of both local and national public relations organizations, including service as vice president of the Baltimore Public Relations Council.

Mr. Greaves also served on the boards of FACETS Boys Home, Junior Achievement and the Institute of Notre Dame.

He was an avid reader and book collector, and was also a fan of the Baltimore Colts and Ravens.

Mr. Greaves was a parishioner for 41 years of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, where he was a member of the church’s parish council and the Knights of Columbus.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. today at his church, 13305 Long Green Pike, Hydes.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Greaves is survived by two sons, Jason A. Greaves of Nottingham and Nicholas T. Greaves of Stewartstown, Pa.; a daughter, Mary G. Jones of Stoughton, Mass.; a brother, Patrick R. Greaves of Cockeysville; a sister, Lindsay E. Greaves of Abingdon; and two grandsons.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen