Philip J. Greenberg

Philip Joel Greenberg (b. Apr. 22, 1942, d. Dec. 26, 2015)
Dr. Philip J. Greenberg was born in the Bronx, New York to loving parents, Gertrude Schechter Greenberg and Harry Greenberg. An only child, he showed a deep interest in science at an early age. Philip attended DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City, receiving upon graduation the Rensselaer Medal for Science and Mathematics (1959) and later, the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2002). He graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) with High Honors (1963) and spoke with pride about the quality education received in both places. He received an MS in Physics (Stanford University, 1964) followed by a PhD in Astrophysics (University of Chicago, 1970) under the advisement of Nobel Prize recipient, Dr. Subramanyan Chandrasekhar. His dissertation focused on magneto-hydrodynamics in general relativity. A theoretical physicist and mathematical astronomer, he published on relativistic hydrodynamics in the Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications and The Astrophysical Journal.
Philip did post-doctoral work at the University of Alberta Theoretical Physics Institute (1973-1975). He taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Monmouth College (NJ) and Roosevelt University (Chicago). He worked at the Atmospheric and Environmental Research Institute in Cambridge, MA and at Bell Laboratories/AT&T (NJ). He taught to share his science expertise with the general public at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education.
As an independent scholar upon returning to Chicago, he formed a consulting agency, Atoms to Stars, to tutor students in science. Ahead of his time, he followed a unique path for a scientist, pursuing organizational management coursework at Carnegie Mellon University and completing a marketing/economics focused MBA at Boston University. He continued lifelong to write, conduct independent research, and tutor many students individually, conveying his love of physics and mathematics to the next generation. In recent years, he wrote for The Bridgeport News in Chicago, distilling his wisdom into pithy aphorisms.
He died on December 26, 2015 at his apartment in Bridgeport, Chicago after a battle with cancer. One of his favorite quotes was "The person who gives life to knowledge is not dead." The words Philip wished to be inscribed on his memorial plaque are “Per Aspera Ad Astra, through hardships to the stars.”

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu