Benjamin Greshin died on August 29, 2012 in the comfort of his home in Newton, MA. He was 86 years old. Ben was born and raised in Borough Park, Brooklyn. He graduated from Townsend Harris High School and then enlisted in the US Army during WWII. After the war, Ben completed his college studies at the City College of New York and then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1950.
Ben’s first job was with the Department of Labor in Washington, DC. While there, he met his future wife, Mildred. They married in 1954 and shortly thereafter moved to Smithtown, NY. Ben established a general law practice in 1955 and continued the practice of law for the next 45 years. He approached his work with passion and commitment. In time, he became a well respected plaintiff’s attorney in Suffolk County. He was deeply saddened when ailments late in life forced him to retire.

Ben was actively involved in the community. He helped found Temple Beth Sholom in Smithtown and a secular Jewish School, as well. From 1966 to 1977, he was the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the Vanderbilt Museum. Ben served on the board of the Suffolk County Boys Scouts and the Smithtown Historical Society. He was also the volunteer judge for the village of Head of the Harbor, in Saint James, where he lived from 1969 to 2000. Ben was an active member of the Suffolk County Bar Association, serving as chairman of the Committee on Grievances from 1974 to 1977 and as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Supreme Court Library. Ben published several articles in the NY Law Journal.

He was an avid reader of history, politics and biographies and enjoyed jogging around Saint James and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. One of his proudest achievements was to become an Adirondack 46er, climbing the 46 peaks above 4000 feet in the Adirondack Park. After his beloved wife’s death in 2000, Ben moved to Newton MA to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Ben is survived by his son Jeremy of Simsbury, CT, his wife Julie and their 3 children, Jesse, Marisa and Paul; and his son Adam of Warren, VT, his wife Anne and their three children, Laura, Sam and Jackie. Reprinted from the Newsday, September 3, 2012.