Samuel Jay Greenberg

It is with heavy hearts as well as peaceful hearts that we announce the passing of Samuel Greenberg on January 22nd 2025 at the age of 87 years old. Born September 27th 1937 to Joseph and Ida Greenberg, raised in New York City.

Samuel was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He lived a life of kindness, service, and unwavering dedication to his loved ones and community.

He is survived by his wife, Lilly, son, Grant, niece and nephew, Lori and Stuart, and grandchildren Colin, Connor, Atticus and Celeste.

Captain Greenberg, was a native New Yorker who graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, and then, the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960. He entered Navy flight training in Pensacola, FL and was carrier qualified and Multi-engine advanced trained (Grumman S-2F Tracker, Lockheed P-2V Neptune) earning his Naval Aviator wings in 1961.

Captain Greenberg first fleet assignment was flying the Lockheed WV-2 Warning Star (Super Constellation) in Argentia, Newfoundland and Keflavik, Iceland. He was then assigned as a Patrol Plane Commander to VP-56 in Norfolk, VA, an anti- submarine warfare and maritime patrol squadron. He was then sent to the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, MD, as a Test Pilot and Project Officer and worked on numerous projects to convert the maritime patrol SP-2H into low-altitude, all-weather, medium bombers (AP-2H) and special operations (OP-2E) for the Vietnam War.

In 1968, Captain Greenberg left active duty and immediately entered the Naval Air Reserve, flying the SP-2H at NAS New York (Floyd Bennett field), as a standardization and check pilot. He later moved with his squadron to NAS Willow Grove, PA, and transitioned to the Lockheed P-3A/B Orion (Electra). On promotion to Commander, he entered the Reserve Naval Air Systems Command program with commanding officer tours for both the Naval Air Development Center and the Naval Air Test Center. He retired from the Reserve in 1990.

He joined Grumman in 1968 as a Consulting Pilot on the manned Lunar Module program and worked on the LM-5/Apollo Eleven in which he was part of the Launch Team at Kennedy Space Center. He later gained considerable fame (and notoriety) as a member of the Apollo Thirteen rescue team and author of the humorous Grumman invoice to North American-Rockwell for “towing charges”.

After Apollo, he was part of the founding team for Grumman Training Systems Department, where he invented, and was awarded a patent, for a portable cockpit procedures trainer (SCEPTR). In 1978, he left Grumman and started a career in magazine publishing, first as associate publisher of Countermeasures, then as editor-publisher of Defense Science and president of the publishing company. In 1990, he started his own publishing company and founded and published Russian Life magazine.

Captain Greenberg founded a computer school for children with his wife Lilly and continued to be an active flight instructor at both Republic and Long Island-Macarthur airports until the age of 83. He was the Past- Commander and active officer of American Legion Aviators’ Post No. 743.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in his name to the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:

Who: Lilly and Grant Greenberg

What: Funeral of CAPT Samuel J. Greenberg

Where: IJ MORRIS Funeral home 21 E Deer Park Rd, Dix Hills, NY 11746 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/I.+J.+Morris,+21+E+Deer+Park+Rd,+Dix+Hills,+NY+11746/@40.8341757,73.3357296,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e82f12046841df:0x6c7e725893c2ce3c!8m2!3d40.8341757!4d-73.3357296!16s%2Fg%2F1tfff6t8) then following the service there will be a procession to Calverton Cemetery for military honors and burial service.

When: Monday January 27th arrive 1130, service to start at 1200, expectation of arrival at Calverton @ 1400.

Why: To honor the life, memories, and legacy of a true American Hero, amazing husband and father. Virtual attendance link : https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c25011740649749

SHIVA ARRANGEMENTS:

Who: Lilly and Grant Greenberg

What: Shiva visit and zoom call

Where: 29 Long House Way Commack NY 11725.

When: following the conclusion of military burial

Why: Shiva is derived from the word sheva, which means seven, signifying the seven days of mourning. It is a time referred to as – “sitting shiva” and its primary purpose is to provide a time for spiritual and emotional healing, where mourners join together to pay respects and support for the mourning family.

Shiva Arrangements for Tuesday and Wednesday:

Where: 63 Quail run Drive Deer Park NY 11729 (must enter from Commack Road across from Panchita Grill. Access code to get into the gate is 2024.)

When: from 3:30pm-7:00pm Zoom link to come.