Marvin Greenbaum

Marvin Greenbaum, 97, of Los Angeles and Northridge passed away May 24, 2023 in Northridge, California. Marvin was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 29, 1925, to Abraham and Fanny Greenbaum. He grew up in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles and began to work at an early age to help contribute to his family's well-being. His first job, before he was age 16, was as a busboy at a delicatessen. He soon resigned from that job to seek another because "I was too small to carry the bus tubs." Another of his early jobs, as he worked his way through UCLA, was selling concessions in the stands at UCLA football games, sometimes serving entertainment and sports celebrities in attendance. While at UCLA, Marvin attained the highest score on the tough freshman comprehensive exam in chemistry and won the highly competitive Freshman Chemistry Award. Marvin transferred from UCLA to UC Berkeley, where he went on to earn his undergraduate degree and the equivalent of a Masters degree, in Electrical Engineering. It was at UC Berkeley that Marvin met his future wife and lifelong companion, Sonia (Nepveu) Greenbaum. Together, Marvin and Sonia forged many close and lasting friendships at UC Berkeley, especially with the group of young women with whom Sonia shared housing and who dubbed themselves the “Fearless Fourteen”, and later their partners. Sonia and Marvin were married on March 11, 1950 into a union full of love, constancy, and adventure, that lasted more than 72 years. Marvin and Sonia settled in Ladera Heights, California, where they raised their two children, Larry and Mark, and enjoyed lifelong friendships with their fellow Laderans. Marvin spent his entire career as an engineer at Hughes Aircraft. Known as “Marvelous Marv” by his colleagues at Hughes, Marvin served as engineer and project manager on numerous aerospace and communications satellites projects. After retiring from Hughes, Marvin continued to enjoy working for several years as a research auditor for the IRS. Marvin engaged in many enjoyable pursuits besides work. He loved traveling with Sonia to visit family and friends and to engage in life-long learning opportunities offered by Elderhostel. He relished time spent with his deep sea fishing group, with whom he took periodic overnight trips out into the Pacific, hauling in loads of albacore and bonita. He also enjoyed participating in his investment club, researching his family's genealogy, and gardening-- two of his specialties were beautiful bromeliads and magnificent tomatoes. Ever the resourceful engineer, Marvin is fondly remembered for his ability to fix just about anything; no automotive, plumbing, or household disaster was beyond his talents and determination to repair. Marvin also loved listening to and sometimes singing along with music, and attending Civic Light Opera musical performances with Sonia. Even recently, at the Village, he delighted fellow residents with his heartfelt singing; he was quite modest about it, we all assured him it was quite good. Marvin will be remembered with great affection for his kind sense of humor, great intelligence, modesty, exuberance, compassion, and love for his family and friends. Marvin was always steadfast in his commitment to his family's well-being. His son Mark recalls him as his protector and champion during a life-long series of medical emergencies and healthcare system encounters. When Mark was born, Marvin scoured the country to find the best surgeon to perform life-saving surgery, and when Mark was a young boy Marvin stayed all night, reassuring him, at his hospital bedside. While in college, Mark underwent emergency surgery and during his long convalescence lost more than 30 pounds. Marvin smuggled milkshakes to Mark to help him regain his strength and weight. All we, his family, had to say was "We need you." -- and he’d be there. Larry recalls his father’s love for music that inspired his own lifelong passion for music, first as a devoted fan and later as a performer. His father was a talented ping pong player who taught Larry how to play, lessons that resulted in so many happy hours playing with his father. He also recalls how his father would take him to Dodger baseball games as a child and helped inspire Larry’s longtime devotion to sports, both as a participant and as a diehard fan, especially regarding his Dodgers, as he has been a Dodger’s season ticket holder for over thirty years. Marvin was predeceased by his wife, Sonia, parents Abraham and Fanny Greenbaum, sister-in law Nadine Asbury, and brother-in-law, Dave Asbury. He is survived by his sons, Larry Greenbaum (Tracy Van Leeuwen) and Mark Greenbaum (Penny Brennan); grandchildren Michael Greenbaum, Rachel Greenbaum, and Noah Brennan-Greenbaum; his niece, Karen Asbury and nephew, David Asbury; great-niece Emily Asbury; and his brother-in-law, Harlan Foote. Marvelous Marv, with your beautiful smile and appreciative laugh; your big brain and your bigger heart, we all love you dearly and will miss you always.