Daniel S. Greenbaum Obituary

Born June 8, 1952, he died on March 27, 2024, of gastroesophageal cancer.

Dan was an innovative and effective environmental leader whose commitment to cleaner air and water did not waver. His characteristic grace, commitment, optimism, and fairness guided his nearly 50-year career and loving relationships with his family and many friends.

Dan grew up in Port Chester, New York, working in his immigrant father's hardware store and discovering his leadership gifts as an Eagle Scout. While earning Bachelor's and master's degrees in urban studies and city planning from MIT, he was active in anti-war protests and forged his commitment to publicly engaged work. After graduating, he traveled across South and Southeast Asia with his wife Deborah Cramer, beginning their 50-year partnership as spouses, friends, colleagues, and fellow adventurers.

Early in his career, Dan opened and ran Mass Audubon's first urban program, Resources for Cape Ann. He worked with others in the community to stop the pollution of Gloucester Harbor, opening its beaches to swimming. His paper "The Costs of Pollution" led to cleaning the Annisquam River and reopening its clam flats. These early projects taught him to make meaningful change by seeing tough issues from more than one perspective, a skill that would become a defining aspect of his career.

From 1988 to 1994, he served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department, of Environmental Protection, leading the Commonwealth's responses to air and water pollution, and solid and hazardous waste management. During his tenure, which, notably, spanned both Republican and Democratic administrations, DEP reduced emissions from cars and trucks, limited septic system contamination of waterways, guaranteed public access to the waterfront, and stopped the proliferation of waste incinerators. He also implemented nationally recognized pollution prevention and hazardous waste clean-up programs. He was the first state official outside California to require that all cars sold in his state meet strict California standards for clean cars.

Dan Greenbaum joined the Health Effects Institute, a government-industry partnership, as its President and Chief Executive Officer in March, 1994. Under his leadership, HEI provided high quality and relevant science that is trusted by all parties, about the health effects of air pollution. HEI's work resulted in tougher national standards for a range of air pollutants, leading to cleaner cars and trucks and substantial reduction in premature death from heart and lung disease. Dan expanded HEI's pioneering air pollution work to the global level, helping to reduce the burden of disease for millions of people in developing countries.

Greenbaum was a member of the U.S. National Academies Board of Environmental Studies and Toxicology and vice-chair of its Committee for Air Quality Management in the United States. He served as Chair of the Board of the International Council on Clean Transportation, helping lead its work to achieve clean fuels and cars worldwide.

He received an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award from the U.S. EPA for his contributions to advancing clean air and the Haagen Smit Award from the California Air Resources Board for his and HEI's contributions to reducing air pollution.

At home, Dan could often be found navigating his family through Essex Bay, using his hardware store skills to maintain one of the longest-running inflatable boats in West Gloucester. He led memorable family adventures, including his daughters' dream trips of camping with wild ponies on Assateague Island and hiking through Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks. He loved being with his grandchildren – building sandcastles, reading, playing board games, being pounced on, and sharing stories from his childhood. He developed a passion for birding, accompanying his wife on research trips to Tierra del Fuego and into the muck of the Essex marshes. He said she was his "north star.".

He was a fixture on the sidelines of his daughters' soccer, basketball, and lacrosse games, reminding them to play hard and fair no matter the score. A dedicated baseball and basketball fan, Dan grew up rooting for any New York area team except the Yankees. He adopted the Red Sox in 1985, applying his trademark optimism to see them become champions in 2004. Through his many decades as a fan, he taught his children and grandchildren the value of not giving up until the game was over.

Dan is survived by his wife, Deborah; daughters Abigail Greenbaum (Matthew Hudnall) and Susannah Cramer-Greenbaum (Ian Petrow); and three grandchildren, Naomi, Alfred, and Jacob. He is also survived by siblings Judi Campbell and Bob Greenbaum (Lynne Knauf), and many beloved sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Please send donations in his honor to The Open Door, 2025 Sawyer Free Library Sustainability, or Essex County Greenbelt.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Shalin Liu Performance Center (37 Main Street, Rockport, Massachusetts, 01966).