Charles Greenberg

Charles Greenberg

1927 – 2024

Charles Philip Greenberg was born December 25, 1927, in New York City, New York, in a Catholic hospital. He grew up in Brooklyn with his older brother and a sister. His father Soll, owned a drug store and his mother, Jeanne, was a secretary. In addition to attending public school, Charles also studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music and learned to love classical music. When Charles started going to college, his ambition was to become a writer. However, his father passed away in the hospital due to complications from surgery. His mother passed away shortly after from breast cancer. After the deaths of his parents, Charles had to change course and take over the drug store. In October of 1948, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University College of Arts and Pure Science. In 1951 he received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. In 1956 he became duly licensed as a pharmacist by the Government of the District of Columbia. As a challenge to himself, he also decided to take the test for Mensa International which he passed and became a member.

Charles joined the army and entered the OCS program. However, the Korean War broke out and before he could graduate, he was called to support the army hospital in France as a pharmacist. His wife, Edith, accompanied him and served as a teacher and school principal.

They returned to the States after the war and lived in Astoria, New York, and had four children: Andrea, Scott, Darryl and Lezlie. The family moved to France in 1971. However, in 1972 they returned to the States via the QE2 in order to enroll their children in school here.

The family moved to Miami Beach, Florida, where Charles bought and managed chain drug stores. In 1985 he and his wife moved to North Carolina. However, when Edith was diagnosed with colon cancer, they moved to New Jersey in hopes of receiving better medical care. Unfortunately, Edith passed away in October of 2004.

Barbara Sullivan retired from Northrop Grumman in Southern California and moved to Princeton when she was called by her nephew and his wife to help them out as a nanny for their 2 year old daughter, Shea. In January of 2008, Barbara was told by a friend she needed to meet some people in her community and invited her to attend a CWW meeting (an organization In Princeton for retired people). This meeting was a first for her and for Charles, who had also been invited by a friend. Turned out both of the friends who invited them were neighbors. God does work in strange ways.

Barbara and Charles were married in May of 2010 and enjoyed a very active life together traveling the world, attending concerts, theaters, visiting art museums and becoming involved in their community. After joining the CWW Board, they became part of the entertainment committee, and organized the dining out group. Charles became a part of the Writer’s Group, which he loved, and also joined the weekly bridge group. In addition, Charles played tennis and was a terrific swimmer. He loved the library and was an avid reader. He also loved people and was interested in getting to know everyone he met.

After they married, Barbara wanted to find a church and they began to attend St. Peter Lutheran Church in Lambertville. The former Pastor met with them regularly and guided Charles through this new religion. He was baptized in June of 2010.

Charles was admitted to the hospital on Monday, April 8. His body was shutting down and the good Lord took him home on Friday, April 12. In addition to his wife, Barbara, he leaves behind his sons Scott, and Darryl; his daughters Leslie and Andrea; two grandchildren, Eric and Julie, daughter-in-law Margot and son-in-law, Chris.

Funeral services are Saturday, April 20 at 11:00 am at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 1608 Harbourton Rocktown Road, Lambertville, NJ. There will be a calling hour from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at the church. Interment is private.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel.