Developer and Philanthropist Hermen Greenberg Dies at 86

Photo by John Arundel Hermen Greenberg at his 86th birthday party in Middleburg last July.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - Hermen Greenberg of Washington and Middleburg, one of the area's leading developers and philanthropists, died of cardiac arrest Sunday at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. He was 86.  

Greenberg built his fortune over six decades in construction and real estate development as the longtime business partner of legendary developer Albert Small. Greenberg and Small founded Southern Engineering Corp., which developed 12,000 apartment units and 5,000 single-family homes across Northern Virginia, Maryland and the District, as well as over two million square feet of office space.

Photo by John Arundel On some days, Greenberg was known to drive around poor neighborhoods in his Cadillac, carrying trunkloads of toys. With a twinkle in his eyes, Greenberg would often stop to unload the toys curbside for the area's less fortunate children.

He also bred thoroughbred race horses commercially and owned Rutledge Farm in Middleburg, where he bred several stakes winners, including Colonial Affair, winner of the 1993 Belmont Stakes, and the great steeplechase horse, Sur La Tete.  Other horses of note that Greenberg owned and raced included Researcher, who won the inaugural Charles Town Classic last year, setting a track record. Greenberg served on the board of the Washington International Horse Show for 20 years and was a Life Founding Member of Great Meadow Outdoors Foundation in The Plains.
 
A noted philanthropist, in the 1960s Greenberg served on the original committee which laid the foundation of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was also devoted to the development of George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and to the Washington National Opera as one of its principal donors.

His favorite pastimes were horsemanship, travel and fishing with his grandchildren. On some days, he was known to drive around poor neighborhoods in his Cadillac, carrying trunkloads of toys. With a twinkle in his eyes, Greenberg would often stop to unload the toys curbside for the area's less fortunate children.  

While a developer by nature, Greenberg was also committed to the preservation of open space. One of his recent projects included the donation of 383 acres - the largest land gift in Montgomery County’s history - to the Montgomery Parks Foundation for the development of Woodstock Park and the Moritz Greenberg Equestrian Center, which was dedicated to his father.  Located near Poolesville, the facility offers several riding trails and features design consultation by renowned horseman Captain Mark Phillips of the United Kingdom. Once open, Woodstock Park will also include hiking trails for nature enthusiasts and senior citizens.

Photo by John Arundel Greenberg, with son Aleco Bravo, last July.

Greenberg supported the civic endeavors of the Washington Field Office of the FBI’s Adopt-a-School Program and also the FBI’s  Citizens’ Academy.   

Greenberg served on the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Housing, was a former board member of the Montgomery Parks Foundation, and a former treasurer of the Northern Virginia Home Builders Association. He was a member of Woodmont Country Club.  

Mr. Greenberg served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged from military service in November 1945, after achieving the rank of Master Sergeant.  

Hermen Greenberg is survived by the former Monica Ann Lindkvist.  He has two sons, Richard Greenberg of Lexington, KY., Aleco Bravo of Washington DC, and one daughter, Sheri, who resides in Keswick, Va.  He is a grandfather of three children and is also survived by a sister, Lee Kirstein and a brother, Raymond Greenberg.

Services will be held at 10 am Wednesday, March 3 at Adas Israel Congregation in the District.