Woodbridge, New Jersey -- With great sadness, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis announces the passing of Robert S. Greenbaum, Esq., a founding member of our firm. Mr. Greenbaum died on Monday, March 5, 2012 at his home in New York City, at the age of 89.
A memorial ceremony honoring Mr. Greenbaum will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 4:00pm at the New Jersey State Bar Headquarters, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, NJ.
With a legal career that spanned over six decades, Mr. Greenbaum leaves behind a professional legacy of extraordinary length and breadth. He helped create and mold many of the laws relating to land use development in New Jersey, including the Mount Laurel decisions regarding the setting aside of real estate development for economically disadvantaged individuals.
Mr. Greenbaum’s stature, both literally and within the legal community, was ‘larger than life’. Along with his father W.L. Greenbaum and surviving brother, Arthur M. Greenbaum, Mr. Greenbaum played an integral role in establishing our firm as a leading presence in New Jersey, continuing his daily practice of law well into his 80s. Arthur Greenbaum comments, “Not all brothers get to spend the vast proportion of their lives together, both personally and professionally. How lucky was I to have that experience with my brother, Bob, for over 60 years."
Born in Newark, New Jersey on May 4, 1922, Mr. Greenbaum graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943. He served during World War II in the European and Pacific theaters as a Lieutenant on the destroyer USS Ludlow. Following his service in the Navy, Mr. Greenbaum received his law degree from Columbia Law School in October 1948 and in 1949 became a member of both the New Jersey and New York Bars.
As a partner in the firm for over 60 years, Mr. Greenbaum concentrated his practice in all phases of real property law. He was the Past-Chair of the Land Use Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of real estate law since its initial publication in 1983. He was continually profiled in Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who in America, and was a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, as well as the Past-President of Columbia Law School Association of New Jersey. In 1982, he was one of the first New Jersey lawyers invited to Fellowship in the prestigious American College of Real Estate Lawyers. In 2007, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties recognized Mr. Greenbaum and his brother Arthur with its Industry Service Award.
For many years, Mr. Greenbaum was the Chair of the firm's Real Estate Department. In the later stages of his lengthy career, his practice focused upon alternative dispute resolution, mediation and arbitration, and in 1997 he was the first recipient of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner of the Year Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association. He became a Master and former Inn Counselor of the Justice Marie L. Garibaldi American Inn of Court for Alternative Dispute Resolution, and subsequently was honored by the New Jersey State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section as an ADR Legend.
In addition to being an active practitioner for over six decades, Mr. Greenbaum devoted significant time to the teaching of law. He was a member of the adjunct faculties of both Rutgers and Seton Hall Law Schools, where he taught land development and real estate financing. He also was active in community affairs and served as the Chairman of the Planning Board of South Orange, as a member of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce, and as a past Chair of the Board of Trustees of Guild Hall of East Hampton, NY.
Mr. Greenbaum is survived by his wife, Theodora ("Teddy") Greenbaum, his brother Arthur M. Greenbaum and his wife Dorothy Greenbaum, two sons, William Greenbaum and his wife Hadassa (Gerber) Greenbaum, son Roger Greenbaum, and daughter Margot Mustich and her husband James Mustich, Jr. His pride and joy were his five granddaughters, Emma Mustich, Iris Mustich, Aliza O'Connor and her husband Shmuel O'Connor, Ariela Greenbaum and Olivia Greenbaum, who brought joy, laughter and love into his family. Contributions in his memory may be made to:
Columbia University School of Law - Annual Fund
435 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
Guild Hall
158 Main Street
East Hampton, NY 11937
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Contacts:
Diana Parker
Director of Business Development
732-476-2464
dparker@greenbaumlaw.com
Erin P. Faltin
Assistant Director of Marketing
732-476-3278
efaltin@greenbaumlaw.com