Martin H. Greenberg
Martin H. Greenberg Professor, Urban and Regional Studies 5/96
Dr. Martin H. Greenberg, 70, passed away on June 25, 2011, after a long battle with illness. He was born March 1, 1941, to the late Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Fla.
Martin received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Miami and went on to earn a Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. He was the Dean of the School of International Studies at Florida International University, and he was the first Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and was a long-time professor there, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1996, but he was best known for his long involvement in the publishing industry.
Starting with a reprint anthology of science fiction stories to help teach political science concepts in his classroom, Dr. Greenberg went on to found Tekno Books and was one of the founders of the Sci-Fi Channel. In nearly 40 years of working in the publishing field, much of which he did as a sideline while still a full-time professor, he helped publish more than 2,500 books, including novels, anthologies, and nonfiction works. He also received lifetime achievement awards in the fields of science fiction, mystery, and horror—the only person in history to win these awards in all three genres—among many other honors bestowed upon him during his distinguished career. Through his work in developing and maintaining markets for writers, Martin became close friends with many authors and always enjoyed spending time at conventions, meeting people and coming up with new ideas and projects.
In addition to his parents, Martin was preceded in death by his first wife, Sally.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalind; their daughter, Madeline, Seattle, Wash.; two stepdaughters from his first wife, Kari Walsh, wife of John Kerkhof, and their daughter, Delenn Kerkhof, Appleton, Wis.; and Kate Walsh, wife of Matt Hall, Bakersfield, Calif.
Services will be held at Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 East Mason St. (468-4111), visitation at 9 a.m., service at 10 a.m., Monday, June 27, 2011, with Rabbi Shaina Bacharach officiating. Burial in Cnesses Israel Cemetery.
Martin's family would like to thank the staff of Heartland Hospice and his many doctors, nurses, and support staff for their dedicated and compassionate care. The family would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Jessica Dominiczak and Tricia Knaus for their devotion to Martin and their excellent, loving care.
(Obituary published June 26, 2011, Green Bay Press-Gazette; reprinted with permission from Kevin Corrado, president and publisher, Green Bay Press-Gazette.)
Services Monday for Prof. Emeritus Martin Greenberg
(Published June 26, 2011, Log newsletter, UW-Green Bay)
Visitation will take place at 9 a.m. followed by services at 10 a.m. Monday (June 27) for Prof. Emeritus Martin H. Greenberg, who died Saturday after a lengthy illness. Services will take place at Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St. Greenberg came to UW-Green Bay in 1969 and retired as a full professor in 1996. A member of the Urban and Regional Science faculty, he taught courses in political science and became known as an authority on Middle East affairs and terrorism. He also served as the first director of graduate studies at UW-Green Bay. He was perhaps best for his long involvement in the publishing industry. Starting with a reprint anthology of science fiction stories to help teach political science concepts in his classroom, Greenberg went on to found Tekno Books and have a role in the creation of the national cable network, the Sci-Fi Channel. He won industry awards for editing or helping to publish thousands of books including novels, anthologies and nonfiction works. His collaborators included the likes of Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts and Isaac Asimov. Science fiction was required reading for many of his courses, and his popular senior seminar was always among the first courses to fill. “The connection (of Tekno Books) to UW-Green Bay is very direct," Greenberg once told an interviewer. "The University's academic plan in the early days, and its emphasis on interdisciplinarity, allowed and encouraged me to develop unique kinds of courses. If I were in a more traditional institution, I probably wouldn't be where I am now, so there's a debt to UW-Green Bay." Greenberg was selected to deliver the May 2006 commencement address at UW-Green Bay. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sally. He is survived by his wife, Rosalind, and children. Rabbi Shaina Bacharach will officiate at Monday’s service, with burial in Cnesses Israel Cemetery. The obituary appeared in the Sunday issue of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Martin Greenberg, UW-Green Bay professor, anthologist dies at 70
He also helped found Sci-Fi Channel
7:35 AM, Jun. 30, 2011 | Written by Kelcie C. McCrae
Martin Greenberg was not a Green Bay native, but he left a lasting impression on the community.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay professor emeritus and former director of graduate studies died Saturday after a long illness. He was 70.
One of the founders of the Sci-Fi Channel (now known as SyFy), he also founded Tekno Books, a Green Bay publishing company that produces more than 2,500 published novels, anthologies and nonfiction works.
His role had him rubbing elbows with authors such as Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz and Sara Paretsky.
He and Clancy created "Politika," the No. 1 best-selling mass-market paperback book in America for five consecutive weeks in 1997 and 1998.
Greenberg's journey to Green Bay began in 1969, when he was recruited to teach political science at UWGB and its satellite campus in Menasha. In 1972, he moved back to his native South Miami Beach, Fla., where he was founder and chairman of the political science and international relations department at Florida International University.
He returned to Wisconsin and the political science department three years later, becoming director of graduate studies at UWGB.
It was while teaching that he became interested in book packaging. Greenberg began an anthology, which is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. Greenberg chose science fiction.
He started with scholarly works to help teach political science concepts until moving to a more commercial platform. He and friend Isaac Asimov created their first anthology, "101 Great Science Fiction Short Stories."
The publishing company was his side job for years. Once he retired from UWGB in 1996, his company took center stage.
Greenberg received numerous awards and recognitions in the fields of science fiction, mystery and horror, becoming the only person to ever win these awards in all three genres: editor guest of honor at the 1991 World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago, the Milford Award for lifetime achievement in science fiction in 1989, and the Ellery Queen Award for lifetime achievement for editing in the mystery field in 1995.
In 1999, he was featured as one of the Top 10 Most Interesting People in Northeastern Wisconsin by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
More Greenberg memories
Published in the LOG e-news, July 1, 2011
The news media and academic and science fiction communities continue to remember Prof. Emeritus Martin H. Greenberg, who died June 25 at age 70 following a long illness. Greenberg, a former political science professor, prolific anthologist and a founder of the Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy), had fans across the country. The blogosphere has been full of commenters lamenting his passing. “If his name was on the cover, it was worth picking up,” noted one Greenberg enthusiast on the science-fiction website io9. “My eyeballs salute him.” The professor/editor made a lasting impression on the Green Bay community, according to a story in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.