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                                                                   Exhibit 24(b)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

              The undersigned, a director or officer of Greif Bros. Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints Michael
J. Gasser and each of his successors to the office of Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name,
place, and stead, in my capacity as director or officer of the Company, to
execute any and all of the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-8, and
any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), to
register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
any shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company for sale under, and pursuant
to, any and all of the Company's current or hereafter adopted or approved stock
option plans or other "employee benefit plans" (as such term is defined under
Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act), as such plans are currently
amended or shall hereafter be amended, including without limitation the
Company's 2001 Management Equity Incentive and Compensation Plan and 2000
Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

              The undersigned has executed and delivered this Power of Attorney
on April 16, 2001.

/s/ John C. Kane
Signature
Director
Position(s) with the Company

John C. Kane
Print or Type Name

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