Charles R Greene

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Charles Rodgers Greene was born on July 8, 1926, in Inwood, Long Island, to Rodgers and Ada Green, formerly of Charleston, South Carolina. Charles’s early years were dominated by his studies, church and baseball. He had no choice but to participate in almost daily activities at First Baptist Church and as a teen played both the piano and organ for its choirs. His parents were devout members who insisted on a firm spiritual foundation for life. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Thomas, close neighbors of the family, became lifelong friends and mentors and contributed to his interest in medicine. Charles excelled in school and in 1944 graduated from Lawrence High School with high honors and was voted most popular and most likely to succeed by his peers. Charles was a member of the school newspaper, the honor society, and served as a Marshall, where he helped with freshman orientation. “Brilliant,” “a good sport,” and “a hot dancer” were typical of the comments penned in his graduation yearbook.

Following high school, Charles briefly joined the Army, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant in less than two years. However a military career was never his chosen path. He used his military benefits to pay for college and medical school at Howard University, the school his mother had spoken to him about early and often. As a matter-of-fact, as a youngster when Charles was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up he always responded, “I am going to Howard University.” At Howard he was well rounded. In addition to excellence in his studies he participated in extracurricular activities. As an undergraduate he joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and was elected chapter parliamentarian and national representative. As a medical student Charles was initiated into the Chi Delta Mu fraternity for students and graduates in the allied health professions, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Charles graduated summa cum laud from Howard University in 1950 and magna cum laud from the College of Medicine in 1954.

Charles concluded his medical training as an intern and resident in internal medicine at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, where he was the first African American Chief Resident. He then quickly made the most of his training and education. First, he opened a private medical practice that thrived until he retired in 1991. While treating loyal patients, who showered his family with Thanksgiving and Christmas treats even after he retired, Charles was also an innovative health administrator and manager. He directed the Home Care Program at Kings County Hospital, and later joined the faculty of Downstate Medical Center, (now SUNY Downstate), first as Director of the Regional Medical Program, then as Director of the School Immunization Program, followed by Associate Chairman of the Department of Family Practice, and finally as Dean of Students, the position from which he retired in 1992.

Outside of the hospital and medical school Charles served his community as a Board Member of the Brooklyn Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a Board Member of the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, a member of the Provident Medical Society of Brooklyn, and he was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Charles’s contributions and commitment were recognized by many organizations. For example, he received honors and awards from Cornerstone Baptist Church, the Provident Medical Society, was voted one of the best doctors in America in 1979, was regularly keynote speaker at Downstate Medical Center commencement exercises, and even inspired excellence, perseverance and optimism to the eighth grade class at Brooklyn Ethical Culture School the year his youngest daughter, Wendy, graduated. Dean Greene was such a beloved educator and dean that many of his students kept in regular communication well after they graduated; some even traveled far to visit him during his final illness.

Charles was an accomplished pianist and gifted singer. He enjoyed golf and a good poker game; for many years he was president of his local poker club. He was a Mets and Knicks fan through good times and bad, and was often treated to tickets by his students, both present and former. For approximately fifty years Charles was an active member of the following social organizations: the Comus; the Guardsmen; Sigma Pi Phi (Boule), recently serving as Chair of the Membership Committee; the Pig Skins of Brooklyn; and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Charles also enjoyed traveling with his family. They have been to many countries in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Europe.

Through his generous spirit, quick wit and true appreciation for the love of family and friends, Charles touched and inspired those who knew him. He was a quiet man whose eyes alone, often spoke volumes and his smile could light up a room. Due to his good looks, presence and oratory skills, he was often compared to Sidney Poitier and Nelson Mandela. Charles was a scholar, a gentleman and a pioneer, who was admired, respected and loved by many.

Charles Rodgers Greene was a devoted, loving and overall simply wonderful son, brother, husband, father, and friend. His love and spirit lives on in Arlene, his wife of 56 years, his daughters Allyson, Carla, and Wendy, sons-in-law Andrew Beard and Benoit Bayo, grandchildren Katumba Charles, Ayana Bellefortune, Julio Charles Rodgers, and Adia Madeline, cousins Eleanor, Durga, Barbara, Bruce and LeRoy, and a host of nieces and nephews. Preceding him in transition are his parents, Rodgers and Ada, and his dear sisters Ineeze and Edna.

Arrangements under the direction of Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home, SARASOTA, FL.