Ruth Marck Greenberg

1921 - 2021

Ruth Marck Greenberg
December 16, 1921 - May 7, 2021
Wilmington, Delaware - Age 99, of Wilmington, DE, formerly of Chapel Hill, NC, died on May 7, 2021.
The youngest of four children, Ruth was born on December 16, 1921 in Grand Forks, ND. During the Great Depression, her father passed away at the age of 47, leaving his widow and their children to manage the family food market. A serious student, Ruth worked in the store after classes, and graduated five years later as the valedictorian of her high school class.
After a freshman year at the University of North Dakota, Ruth transferred to the University of Minnesota. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1943 and was offered a scholarship to undertake graduate studies in the Department of Physiological Chemistry at Yale University. In moving to New Haven CT, Ruth was joined by both her older sister, Sara, and their mother. Ruth graduated from Yale in 1945 with a Master of Science degree.
While working on her degree, Ruth met and married Bernard George Greenberg in April 1946. Following their marriage, they journeyed to North Carolina for Bernie to attend graduate school in statistics. They decided to stay in NC, and Ruth helped support the family by teaching organic chemistry at NC State. Bernie completed his PhD in 1949, shortly after Ruth delivered their first child, Stanley Marck.
Upon graduation, Bernie was hired as the founding chairman of the Department of Biostatistics at the University of North Carolina. The young couple moved to Chapel Hill where they welcomed daughter, Frances Kay (Klein) in 1951 and son, Raymond Seth in 1955. A devoted mother and wife, Ruth was focused on raising the three children and supporting Bernie in his role as department chairman (1949-1972) and then dean of the School of Public Health (1972-1982). Ruth was an active member of the UNC University Women's Club, the Chapel Hill Garden Club, book, bridge, and gourmet cooking clubs, as well as an active participant at Beth El Synagogue of Durham, NC.
Upon Bernie's death in 1985, Ruth remained in Chapel Hill, staying active in university, town and synagogue life. In 2008, she moved to Wilmington, DE to be close to her family. In Wilmington, Ruth lived at Stonegates Retirement Community where she made new friends and enthusiastically took advantage of their many activities. She also joined Congregation Beth Shalom where she enjoyed attending services with her family. The last few years of her life, Ruth moved into the Health Center at Stonegates where she was lovingly cared for by their excellent staff. The family is especially grateful to the nurses, aides and activities personnel at Stonegates who always made her feel safe, secure and well loved.
Ruth is survived by son, Stanley (Einat) of Kibbutz Kabri, Israel; daughter, Frances Klein (Steven) of Wilmington, DE; son, Ray (Leah) of Sarasota, FL; five grandchildren, Naomi Greenberg, David Klein (Laura), Anna Klein Janet (Andrew), Oded Greenberg, and Avishai Greenberg; three great-grandchildren, Henry Klein, Jack Klein, and Aaron Janet; and nieces and nephews. Ruth was predeceased by her father, Samuel Marck; mother, Anna Marck; sister, Dolly Rosenblum; brother, Alex Marck; sister, Sara Cohen; and husband, Bernard Greenberg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Congregation Beth Shalom, 1801 Baynard Boulevard, Wilmington, DE 19803; Beth El Synagogue, 1004 Watts Street, Durham, NC 27701; or to the Public Health Foundation, P. O. Box 309, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0309.
SCHOENBERG
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