Arthur M. Greenbaum
By Joshua Burd
He was an icon of New Jersey’s real estate and legal professions, but those who knew Arthur Greenbaum personally were all too familiar with his penchant for storytelling.
His son recalled one anecdote in particular, one that offered a different take on Lou Gehrig’s famous speech in 1939 in which he deemed himself the “luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”
“It was dad’s contention that he, rather than the famous slugger, met that description,” David Greenbaum said. “Initially, I thought my dad’s words were somewhat audacious and hyperbolic, but the recent months have given me the opportunity to reflect on this impression.”
As it turned out, he believes his father made a compelling case.
“He got to experience the joys of being a parent, a grandparent and a great grandparent to a loving family,” he said. “And, perhaps most importantly, dad had the wisdom to experience overwhelming appreciation and gratitude for the wonders of his life.
“There’s no doubt in my heart that my dad achieved that most magnificent balance that defines a life of the highest value.”
The younger Greenbaum spoke earlier this week during a ceremony to honor his late father, a beloved figure in the real estate and legal communities for more than 60 years. Arthur M. Greenbaum died in April at age 91, leaving a legacy of professional achievements and a legion of adoring friends and colleagues across New Jersey’s real estate community.
Many of them were among the crowd of more than 200 that filed into Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre on Monday. Nearly a dozen speakers eulogized the industry titan, who joined his late brother and father in founding Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP.
“He was very, very proud of the firm,” said Paul Rowe, the chairman of the Woodbridge-based firm. “And he reveled in it and he really had deep affection for the people in it. And he was loved by the firm and by our entire staff.”
Greenbaum, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, helped oversee the growth of the powerhouse law firm and would go on to argue nine cases before the state Supreme Court. He focused his practice on real estate brokerage and trade association law, representing many of New Jersey’s top developers while emerging as a major benefactor to Monmouth University’s Kislak Real Estate Institute.
Aside from his professional highlights, colleagues recalled his optimism, eloquence and eagerness to mentor anyone who sought his advice. They spoke of Greenbaum’s famous lunches at diners near the firm’s office in Middlesex County, where spirited discussions about politics or cases were all but guaranteed.
But perhaps more than anything, they described a legendary sense of humor and love of storytelling. Those who knew Greenbaum undoubtedly heard his jokes and stories multiple times through the years, but there was nothing tedious or tiresome about the repetition.
They also recalled his seemingly universal kindness.
“One of the most important characteristics of Arthur was the fact that he treated people of all walks of life with dignity and respect,” said Robert Goldsmith, who co-chairs the redevelopment and land use department at Greenbaum Rowe. “And in turn he was loved by everyone who knew him.”
Below are excerpts of other memories shared by speakers at Monday’s service.
Donald Moliver, dean of the Leon Hess Business School at Monmouth University (on Greenbaum’s support of the Kislak real estate program):
“By my estimates, there’s probably at least 12,000 individuals and companies that have passed into Wilson Hall for these annual real estate events. And the benefit that it has given to the university and the millions of dollars that it has raised in scholarship funds is just significant.”
Meryl A.G. Gonchar, member of Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. and former Greenbaum Rowe attorney:
“We spent hours and days working on contracts across his big desk. He would talk me through every term, every provision, critiquing my drafting and encouraging me to think creatively. Perhaps every great teacher would do the same, but few would do so with the same patience and humor and affection. By example, he taught us how to treat everyone with respect and kindness, to take our work but not ourselves too seriously.”
Alan Davis, partner with Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP:
“He wanted to enjoy his last months as if he had 100 percent control of the future. And to a great extent, he succeeded. He had an inventory of thousands of jokes, which, almost until the day he died, he could summon with total recall and with a minimum of repetition.
“Arthur’s life was a magnificent voyage, a paragon of greatness in every respect, mixed in with a generous dose of wisdom, passion, caring, concern, humor, honesty, character and hard work. He was a great lawyer, the perfect partner.”
Nancy Greenbaum, daughter of Arthur Greenbaum:
“Not only was Arthur an icon in his professional sphere, but he was also iconic to us as the loving but demanding patriarch of four generations of Greenbaums. He had, as he put it, ‘a great run’ and he loved to share his stories with us.”
