Arnold C. Greenberg

Arnold C. Greenberg passed away on March 19, 2025. He was 91.

Arnold was a proud Hartford native, born on June 12, 1933 to Frances (Milkenstein) Greenberg and Maurice Greenberg. He earned degrees from three prestigious institutions: Weaver High School as valedictorian in 1951, Harvard College, magna cum laude in 1955, and Harvard Law School in 1958.

He returned to Hartford where he practiced law at Apter and Nahum prior to joining Connecticut Leather Company, which his father founded in 1932. What began as a shoe findings purveyor became Coleco Industries, expanding to pools, video games and the Cabbage Patch Kid.

Arnold marveled at his family’s immigrant trajectory and how far they had come by pursuing education and working hard. He was a first generation immigrant who was ever cognizant of his roots.

His Jewish identity and values were a guidepost. He was committed to helping the stranger and the impoverished, driven by his love of learning and devoted to “tikkun olam:” repairing and perfecting the world. He was a generous philanthropist, who thoughtfully shared his resources, expertise and leadership with organizations too numerous to name.

His dedication to the Jewish community was far-reaching. Among the organizations he supported were Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation.

Committed to education and Greater Hartford, he spent decades as an involved supporter of the University of Hartford where he was on the Board of Regents and served as Chair from 1998 to 2003. He founded the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies in 1985 at the University to honor the legacy of his father. It is an acclaimed center for scholarship, innovative curricula and public programming for the Greater Hartford community.

His first exposure to the arts was on trips to the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts as a student in the Hartford Public Schools. That began a lifelong philanthropic commitment to providing opportunities for others to enjoy the arts that they wouldn’t have been able to afford to otherwise.  He was deeply engaged with the Bushnell for over forty years, on its Board of Trustees beginning in 1981 and serving as its Chair from 1998 through 2004. He joined the Board of the Hartford Stage in its infancy nearly sixty years ago, now a renown regional theater. He remains an honorary trustee of the Wadsworth Atheneum.

He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Beverly Parks Greenberg and by his brother, Leonard Greenberg. He is survived by his daughters, Dana and Sara Greenberg; his grandchildren, Joshua and Lily Shafer; and his sister-in-law, Phyllis Greenberg.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 21 at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue in West Hartford with Rabbi James Rosen officiating. Burial will follow in Beth El Temple Cemetery at 51 Jackson Street, Avon, CT. Immediately following the burial, the family will receive relatives and friends at Beth El Temple.

Shiva will be observed at the family’s home, 47 Jillian Circle, West Hartford, on Sunday, March 24; Monday, March 25; and Tuesday, March 26 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a minyan at 7:00 pm.

His charitable giving was a cornerstone in his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a recipient of the donor’s choosing that will honor his memory.

Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Arnold, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com