Abe Greenberg

Abe Greenberg NORFOLK - Abe Greenberg, 90, of Suffolk, died July 14, 2010. Born Feb. 9, 1920 in Norfolk to Mary and Louis Greenberg, he attended Maury High School and Old Dominion University. During World War II, he was offered a military deferment to work in ship design at the Norfolk Naval Shipyards, but turned down the deferment to join the active military with the 283rd Combat Engineers Battalion in Europe, under the command of Gen. George Patton. After the war ended, he returned to Norfolk where Abe assumed from his parents the management of Greenberg's Grocery. Located on the 1400 block of Church St., Greenberg's Grocery was perhaps the oldest continuously run grocery store in the Tidewater area at the time of Abe's retirement in 1982. The store was known for personalized services. Customers could receive store credit "on the books," phone order service, have groceries delivered at no additional charge, and as a customer in the store, a clerk gathered your grocery items for you... at Greenberg's, personal service was the highest priority. The store was also known for the fun and lively conversations during the 4 p.m. "Comedy Hour." This event became a tradition for friends and customers to come by the store to share their funny and outrageous stories. The Comedy Hour was to play a role in Abe's later career. After 35 years of working seven days a week, Abe retired from the grocery business, but was far too energetic to stop work so he and his wife Lou joined one of his sons, Daryl in the property management business in Charlotte, N.C. So begun his new career that he approached in his own unique way. For instance, he would tell rental prospects everything that was wrong with a rental home before he would tell them what was right about the home...he felt if the bad news didn't run them off they would be good residents. Daryl notes that Abe's approach proved to be right. His youngest son Brad, also an entrepreneur, had in the 1980s begun opening comedy clubs in the Southeast. Abe started his third career by joining the Comedy Zone organization as a full time club manager. He operated clubs in Winston Salem, N.C., High Point, N.C., and later at the Comedy Zone in the Radisson Hotel in downtown Norfolk. Abe was remembered by comics for many reasons but most notably for his firm, but fatherly remarks to them upon their arrival at his clubs; his most remembered remark among comedians was "they had better be funny." He required comedians to be funny or he suggested he would not pay them, a novel idea at the time. Abe worked with numerous comic stars including Jerry Seinfeld, Carrot Top, Ellen DeGeneres, David Allen Greer, Roseanne Barr, James Gregory, D.L. Hughley, among hundreds of other comedians during his 12 years in the comedy management business. At the age of 79, and in good health, Abe started his last career as a medical driver for Sentara hospitals where he delivered medicine for home bound patients until he reached the age of 84. He brought to patients not only critical medicines and medical devices but also good cheer and a bright smile as he enjoyed being able to help others less fortunate. He always thought highly of Sentara Hospital staff for their wonderful treatment of him both as an employee and later as a patient. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lou; his sister, Frieda Zimmerman; his sons, Daryl Greenberg and wife Bonnie, Brad Greenberg and wife Linda and their sons Ben, Micah and daughter Lauren and stepsons Richard Wash and wife Diane, daughter Sydney and Sherwood Woodard and wife Lucinda and daughters Betty and Bonnie and grandson Arthur; as well as numerous nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jenny Mendelsohn. A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk on Sunday July 18, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jewish Family Services of Tidewater, 260 Grayson Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.altmeyer.com.