Sol Greenberg

Greenberg, Sol ALBANY Sol Greenberg, 95, died on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Born in New York City on November 6, 1921, the oldest child and son of the late Jacob and Helen (Lasarescu) Greenberg, who emigrated from Romania. Sol was educated in the Albany public schools, graduated from the State University at Albany and in 1948, received his law degree from the Albany Law School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, and commissioned an Ensign and served in World War II until 1945. He remained active in the Naval Reserve until 1970 when he retired with the rank of commander, USNR. In 1945 Sol married Beatrice (Raab) Greenberg in Albany where they raised a son and daughter and enjoyed 72 years together. Sol practiced general law with several local firms and had his own private practice for several years. In 1974, he was elected Albany County District Attorney, a position he held until retiring in 2000. During his tenure as district attorney, his office was the first in the country to use D.N.A. as evidence in a courtroom case, considered the most important breakthrough in criminal forensics since fingerprinting. While in office, Sol lectured extensively on criminal law and criminal procedure law at the New York State Police Academy, the New York State Correctional Officer's Training Academy, as well as at local colleges and high schools. In 1979, he was on the staff and taught at the National College of District Attorneys and at the University of Houston in Texas. For three years he had a television show on Sunday mornings on WRGB in Schenectady which featured interviews with commissioners, judges and others involved in the criminal justice system. During his 26 years as district attorney, Sol received many distinguished honors, including the Frank Hogan Award, presented to him in New York City, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University at Albany and a special invitation to attend the law program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In recent years, Sol has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Capital District Senior Issues Forum, an award presented by the Albany County Bar Association recognizing his 67 years of membership and contributions to Albany County's legal affiliations and a proclamation from the Albany County Veterans Recognition Program for his four years of active duty in the Navy during World War II. Sol was a member of the of the New York State Bar Association, Rensselaer County Bar Association , National District Attorneys' Association, the Criminal Justice Advisory Council of the State University at Utica/Rome, and a president of the New York State District Attorneys' Association. During his working career he was on the Board of Directors of Hope House, Inc. of Albany, a member of the Governor Clinton Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Albany Jewish Veterans. In retirement, Sol was a consultant for the Forensic Support Services of New York State, reviewing and solving murder and missing person's cold cases. For many years Sol taught Sunday school at Congregation Beth Emeth and taught Hebrew at Congregation Ohav Shalom and Tafereth Israel, preparing students for Bar Mitzvah. He was a member of Congregation Beth Emeth. Sol spent his last years living at home, time with family and close friends, enjoying his love of classical piano, often played by long time family friend, Lois Busch, and smoking his pipe on the back patio. In addition to his wife, Beatrice; Sol is survived by his son, Harry (Linda) of Guilderland; his daughter, Elizabeth Friedland of Cambridge, Mass.; his grandson, David Greenberg of Westfield, Mass.; his granddaughters, Ellen Greenberg of Albany and Caroline Friedland of Cambridge; his sister, Harriet (Herman) Gold of Seattle; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Avrom (Ginny) Greenberg. Services were held privately, with interment in the Beth Emeth Cemetery in Loudon- ville. The period of mourning will be held at the Greenberg residence on Monday and Tuesday from 7- 9 p.m. Memorial contributions in Sol's name may be made to a charity of one's choice. To leave a condolence message for the family, visit, levinememorialchapel.com