Matthew "Matt" Harris Greenbaum

On August 8, 2026, Matthew “Matt” Harris Greenbaum, a resident of New Orleans for 54 years, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, who sang him into that good night. Matt, who was 74 years old, had battled Parkinson’s disease for the past 20 years.

He is survived by his five children: Esther Greenbaum (Jill Tucker), Miriam Greenbaum Solomon (Aaron), Vanessa Greenbaum (Adam Bosso), Madeline Greenbaum (Charles Yeilding) and Arthur “Wyatt” Greenbaum; his five grandchildren, Elizabeth Solomon, Eli Solomon, Olivia Bosso, Emilia Bosso, and Margot Yeilding; his mother, Gloria Rubin Greenbaum, his brother, Daniel Greenbaum, and his sister, Jessica Greenbaum (Jed Marcus). He is also survived by Esther and Miriam’s mother, Barbara Ziv, Wyatt’s mother, Ashley Hewitt, his cousins, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends, colleagues and companions.

He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Lowell Greenbaum, and Vanessa and Madeline’s mother, Lesa Matherne.

Matt was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Queens and Roslyn Heights, New York. As a young child, he contracted polio, requiring years of frequent trips to the doctor with his mother, Gloria. He and his brother and best friend, Dan, grew up together sharing a lifelong love of baseball. Matt was deeply influenced by his parents, both of whom were educators, who instilled in their children an appreciation for academics, intellectual curiosity, politics, equality, and justice. They raised their children to actively strive to make the world a better place, a value which Matt incorporated into his profession as a lawyer. Although Matt, who skipped a grade in elementary school, was challenged as younger and physically smaller than many of his classmates, he eventually became a successful high school wrestler.

In 1968, Matt entered Columbia College of Columbia University, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1972. During his years at Columbia, which coincided with the societal upheaval caused by the Vietnam War, Matt became actively involved in the student anti-war movement. In 1969, he and other students were arrested for occupying a university building during an antiwar protest. In the Fall of 1969, he met his future wife, Barbara Ziv, whom he married in 1972, shortly before they both entered Tulane University Law School, from which they graduated in 1975.

Matt had a storied legal career. During law school, he clerked for Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Frank A. Marullo, Jr. He was hired shortly after graduation by the renowned white-collar criminal defense lawyer, Michael Fawer, with whom he worked on many high-profile cases. He also assisted Yoko Ono in obtaining the return of stolen photographs. Matt eventually left criminal defense litigation and became a prominent Social Security disability lawyer in New Orleans. He founded The Law Offices of Matt Greenbaum, expanding the firm to Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi. His ubiquitous television commercials made him something of a local celebrity. Matt took particular pride in helping people who needed an advocate. His expertise in Social Security disability law was recognized nationally, and he frequently spoke at conferences of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. He also taught Trial Advocacy at Tulane Law School from 1984 to 1989 and Social Security Law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law from 1992 to 1996. Matt believed deeply in education, service, and community. He was active at Metairie Park Country Day School, which all of his children attended from kindergarten through 12th grade. He served as President of the Board of the New Orleans Ballet Association and was involved in numerous other civic organizations throughout the city. His Jewish faith was integral to his life, and one of his proudest achievements was serving as President of the Board of Temple Sinai. Matt was passionate about music. His favorite artists included The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Browne. He was a patron of the arts, an avid New York Rangers fan, and a Yankees fan through and through. He loved sports, music, and all things politics.

Matt’s five children and five grandchildren remained his greatest source of pride and joy. He was an active and devoted father who showed up for every soccer game, cross-country meet, music concert, school musical, and the countless ordinary moments that make up a childhood. He encouraged his children to value education, curiosity, athleticism, healthy competition, justice, and equality, to think for themselves; and to stand up for what they believed was right.

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which drastically changed the trajectory of his life, Matt was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. For more than 20 years, he lived with this cruel and unrelenting progressive debilitating disease. He fought it courageously to the very end. Parkinson’s defined the final chapter of Matt’s life, but not the life that came before it or the legacy he leaves behind. He was brilliant and curious, brave and complicated, loving and generous. He enthusiastically supported his family and friends, and he was wholeheartedly loved in return. At the end, his loved ones held vigil by his side, surrounding him with the music he loved and singing him into eternal rest.

Matt’s family is especially grateful to Elnora Smith, who was an important and beloved part of the Greenbaum family for more than 45 years. They also extend their gratitude to the devoted caregivers who cared for Matt throughout his long battle with Parkinson’s disease, and to the staff of Poydras Home, who cared for him with compassion in the final months of his life.

Visitation will be held at Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, with a funeral service beginning thereafter at 11:00 a.m. For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be livestreamed through Temple Sinai’s website. A catered reception will follow in the Temple Sinai Auditorium.

Memorial donations may be made in Matthew Harris Greenbaum’s memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org, in support of its work toward better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com