William Samuel Greenberg

Judge William S. Greenberg, 83, of Washington, DC passed away March 16, surrounded by his family, his pens, and the busts of several past presidents. A devoted husband, father, soldier, and jurist, Judge Greenberg dedicated his life to family, public service, justice, and the men and women who served in uniform.

Born on December 2, 1942, in New York and raised in New Jersey, Judge Greenberg earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1964 and his law degree from Rutgers in 1967. The highlight of his law school experience was Civil Procedure taught by future Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Following a judicial clerkship with New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert A. Matthews, he began a long and distinguished career as a trial lawyer, retiring as a partner at McCarter & English, LLP, in November 2012.

In 1967, Judge Greenberg enlisted in the U.S. Army and earned a commission in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 1970. He would serve in the U.S. Army Reserve for 27 years, retiring as a Brigadier General in 1994. In later years, he reflected that his time in uniform shaped his deep empathy for service members and informed his life’s mission to serve as what he proudly called a “soldier’s lawyer.”

Judge Greenberg’s commitment to veterans continued long after his own service. He founded the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Program of Military Legal Assistance, providing free legal support to reservists called to active duty. He also personally represented wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in their disability hearings, work that earned him national recognition, the Medal of Honor from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, the Distinguished Service Medal from the National Guard Association of the United States, and the Rutgers Public Service Award.

In 2009, with the recommendation of the White House, he was appointed Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB), where he advised the Secretary of Defense on policies affecting the nation’s reserve components. Under his leadership, the Board championed expanded legal support for wounded and injured service members navigating the military evaluation system. In recognition of his dedication to our nation’s soldiers, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Department of Defense’s second-highest civilian honor.

In December 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Greenberg to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, where he served with distinction. As a judge, he was known for his independence, intellect, and compassion for veterans seeking justice. His opinions were marked by meticulous scholarship, historical depth, and a profound understanding of the human dimension of military service.

Judge Greenberg was also a gifted teacher and mentor. He served as Adjunct Professor of Military Law at Seton Hall University School of Law and later at Georgetown University Law Center, where he inspired future generations of lawyers.

While his professional record was impressive, his family was without a doubt his greatest source of pride. He is survived by his beloved wife Tina, his devoted partner of more than 50 years; his children Kit (Pedro) Herrera, Tony (Keiko) Greenberg, and Elizabeth (TJ) Wilkinson; his four grandchildren Sebastian, Emiko, Lillian, and Sam; his brother Stephen (Lisa) Greenberg; his sister Leslie Aronson; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Dorothy Greenberg and his sister Susan Ranney.

He will be remembered not only for his brilliance and integrity but also for his warmth, humor, and generosity.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, March 20, 2026 from 2:30 – 5:00 PM at the Army & Navy Club in Washington, DC.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of The Honorable William S. Greenberg may be directed to support The Pishvaian Greenberg Fund at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Please make gifts online at sibleyfoundation.org or send checks payable to the Sibley Foundation (with an online note or memo on the check indicating that the gift is in memory of The Hon. William Greenberg in support of The Pishvaian Greenberg Fund) to the Sibley Foundation, 5255 Loughboro Road, NW, Washington, DC 20016.