Martin Greene

1931 - 2022
Martin Greene of South Egremont, MA, whose life was rich with family and myriad interests that he pursued with vigor, passed away on August 7, 2022, at the age of 90. He was taking walks in the country, enjoying avant-garde classical music, and exploring new photographic techniques when he had a series of hospitalizations that culminated in a heart attack. He was surrounded by loved ones during his last days and final moments.

A scrappy kid, Martin grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and dropped out of high school to join the U.S. Air Force. A staff sergeant photographer stationed in Guam, he ended his service after four years with an honorable discharge. He returned to New York City and his career as a photographer, working as an assistant for Richard Avedon, the famous fashion photographer. His life changed radically when he met his future wife at a bar in Greenwich Village. An intellectual with a college degree, Barbara encouraged him to get an education. He returned to high school to finish his studies and in 1961 he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hunter College of the City University of New York. He went on to Columbia University to study social work, receiving his PhD in 1972. He had a long career at Adelphi University on Long Island as a dedicated and beloved tenured professor of social work and built a successful private practice as a psychotherapist. He continued his work as a photographer, creating breathtaking images of the natural world and selling his work at an esteemed gallery until he died.

Martin was married to Barbara for 60 years, until her passing in 2015. Together, they lovingly raised two daughters and then became doting grandparents. They lived in Brooklyn, Great Neck, NY, and finally South Egremont, and they traveled the world without trepidation, enjoying the cuisines and cultures of countless destinations well into their eighties. After Barbara's passing, Martin shared his final years with Nancy Flaxman.

Martin is survived by his two daughters, Elizabeth and Alice Greene; Elizabeth's husband, Curtis Jones; Alice's partner, Sue Fine; his four grandchildren, Sam and Ruby Jones and Bella and Thomas Mungioli; as well as his partner, Nancy. SERVICES: His memorial service will be held this Saturday, August 13th, at 11 am at 7 Brookvale Road, South Egremont, MA. Donations in his honor may be made to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (https://www.bnrc.org), which protects many of the trails that Martin spent countless blissful moments exploring.