Martin Frederick Greenfield

He was born in Newark on March 29, 1937, to Norman, the proprietor of a Maplewood soda shop, and Lillian, a dictation secretary. Raised in Irvington, he spent the war years living in a three-bedroom apartment with his parents, aunt, uncle, and cousin, who was like a sister. Because he suffered from childhood asthma, he was sent at age 10 by a generous uncle to live for two years at a boarding school for asthmatic children in Tucson, Arizona.

He attended Irvington High School, where he was a member of the football and swim teams, the latter sparking a lifelong passion. As a teen and young adult, he spent summers down the shore with his family and working as a Bradley Beach lifeguard, forming some of his most beloved memories.

Martin went on to graduate from Seton Hall and receive his master’s degree in history at Kean College, then had stints teaching and serving as head swim coach at St. Benedict’s Prep School in Newark and Dickinson High School in Jersey City.

In 1962, during a day trip to Loch Arbor Beach, he was napping in the sun when his joker friends snuck up behind him, ready to dump a pail of cold ocean water onto his back. That’s when beachgoer Deborah Goodman, who had been watching him from her own nearby blanket, sprang to her feet, yelling, “Stop!” When Martin woke up, grateful and dry, he and Deborah went for a long walk together until a storm broke out and he asked for her number.

They began a courtship that led to their marriage the next year, starting a life together first in northern New Jersey and then in Eatontown, where they resided together for 57 years. Martin became a U.S. History teacher at Toms River North High School, a position that he held for 28 years until his retirement. There, he coached bowling, guiding the team to a state championship victory.

Also during that time, he participated in many ocean mile swims, was on the Carl Cohen Y Bowling League — a membership he cherished for over 30 years — and belonged to Monmouth Reform Temple. He worked for more than 30 summers as a teller at Monmouth Park Racetrack.

Martin and Deborah had two children together, Beth and Adam; in 1982 Adam, at age 7, died in a car accident, a loss Martin would mourn for the rest of his days.

Still, he remained a loving and present father to Beth and became a sweet, supportive, hilarious grandfather to his granddaughter Lula. He delighted in joys both great and small, whether that was eating fresh tomatoes out of his backyard garden, mowing the lawn, bodysurfing, strolling the Long Branch boardwalk, cracking up his family with his silly Dad jokes, or traveling the world with Deborah, to more than 25 countries including Israel, Russia, New Zealand, China, and extensively through Europe and the Caribbean.

“He was a loving husband and father whose eyes sparkled when he spoke about his daughter or granddaughter,” said Deborah. “And he was generous, especially to the country of Israel.”

He was a very proud of being Jewish and was a true news junkie, known to read four newspapers front to back while simultaneously watching the TV news. He relished having meals out at his favorite restaurants and, up until just a year ago, loved swimming laps at his local pool.

Martin is survived by his wife of 62 years, Deborah; daughter Beth, her wife Kiki Herold and their daughter Lula; and brother-in-law Michael Goodman, wife Linda, and their sons Daniel and Eric.

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, May 14,2026 1:00 PM at Mount Lebanon Cemetery 189 Gill Lane, Iselin, New Jersey. We will gather at the cemetery office about 12:30PM.

The Period of Mourning will be observed at the residence of Deborah Greenfield as follows: Thursday following the burial and Friday:1-4PM.

Donations in Martin’s memory may be made to Magen David Adom https://secure.afmda.org