A funeral was held July 2 at the Jewish Memorial Chapel in Clifton for Hudson County Community College Grants Officer, Estelle Filker Greenberg, Ph.D., who passed away June 30.
“It is with great sorrow that the College announces the loss of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Estelle Greenberg,” said college president Dr. Glen Gabert. “By securing millions of dollars of grants funding, Dr. Greenberg played a pivotal role in growing this institution from a one-building, one-campus site with a few thousand students to one that operates from eleven buildings on two campuses with nearly 8,000 students. In her role as Director of Grants, Estelle helped literally hundreds of students to attain their dreams and goals. Our deepest sympathies go to her family. She will be greatly, greatly missed,” Dr. Gabert said.
Dr. Gabert said that Dr. Greenberg had valiantly battled cancer for nearly two years. “True to her indomitable spirit, and her concern for the College and its students, Estelle allowed neither her condition nor her treatments to deter her from her work,” he stated, noting that many people did not know she was ill.
Estelle Greenberg grew up in Jersey City. She held a doctorate degree in American Civilization from the Graduate School of Arts and Science at New York University, where she graduated with distinction in doctoral orals, and earned her MA from the same institution. She received her BA, Magna cum Laude, Honors in English, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Delta Omicron and Psi Chi from Washington Square College, New York University. As a graduate student, Dr. Greenberg was a three-time recipient of the Louis Lerner Fellowship in American Civilization.
Dr. Greenberg taught at New York University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Hudson County Community College. She followed her interest in making social change happen outside of the classroom by serving as Chief of Grants Management for the City of Passaic, Vice President for Program at the Brookdale Foundation Group, and as Director of Grants at Hudson County Community College. Dr. Greenberg assumed responsibility for the Grants Department at HCCC in 1992, and attained the title of Grants Officer this year.
According to Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees Chair William J. Netchert, Dr. Greenberg was responsible for researching, finding and securing grants and writing proposals that assisted the College in financing: core curriculum and staff development programs; the Community Technology Center that brought computers to eleven HCCC sites throughout Hudson County; and programs that focused on student retention, instructional development, and transferring to four-year institutions. “Estelle’s passing is a great loss on every level. On behalf of the College and everyone in the community, we send our sincere sympathy and prayers to her family,” Mr. Netchert said.