Leon Jack Greenbaum - Obituary

R. LEON JACK GREENBAUM, JR. - NEUROPHYSIOLOGIST, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, AUTHOR, NAVY PILOT, DEEP SEA DIVER AND SAILOR DIES AT AGE 97. Leon J. Greenbaum Jr., (Lee), passed away at his home in Edgewater, Maryland with his loved ones by his side, on November 5, 2020. Lee was born September 24, 1923, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Leon J. Greenbaum, Sr. and Jessie Kilmore Greenbaum. He was a neurophysiologist, and did research in hyperbaric, diving, and submarine medicine, at the Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI). In 1971, he retired from the Navy as a captain, and worked for a decade at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reviewing grants for head and spinal cord injuries, and neurological diseases. From 1986 to 2000, he was Executive Director of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). Lee was the author of over 30 scientific publications, he co-authored two texts on diving and submarine medicine, and was editor of three texts on diving and undersea warfare. As a career navy officer and veteran of three wars, Lee was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and a Navy Unit Commendation. Raised in Baltimore, Lee graduated from Baltimore City College, where he played violin in the orchestra, and worked on the school newspaper. With his two younger brothers, they excelled as members of the swim team under coach Ernie Marx. All three brothers sang at St. Michael’s and All Angel’s Church and performed at the 1939 World’s Fair with the choir. He matriculated at Loyola College in 1941, where he was a standout on the swimming team. In World War II, he put his education on hold to serve his country. He volunteered for aviation and entered the Navy in 1942. Lee was commissioned as a Naval Aviator in 1944 and served in the Philippines during WW ll. After the war, he returned home to finish his degree, taking summer courses at University of North Carolina and Johns Hopkins University, before finishing at Loyola with a B.S. in Physics and Biology with the intention of going into medicine. At Loyola, Lee became a champion backstroker, and was the first President of their letterman’s club (Block L). After graduation he was accepted into medical school, but became more interested in neurophysiology research while working for Johns Hopkins APL in Silver Spring, Maryland. He pursued a graduate degree from the University of Maryland, and continued to fly in the Naval Reserves. During the Korean Conflict, he returned to active duty as a pilot, where met a Flight Surgeon, Dr. Ebbe C. Hoff, who had an Office of Naval Research contract to write a book on Compressed Air, Diving and Submarine Medicine. He helped Lee transfer to the Office of Naval Research in Washington, DC where they researched and co-authored 2 volumes of the Bibliographical Sourcebook of Compressed Air, Diving, and Submarine Medicine. Lee worked as a graduate assistant in Zoology at College Park and earned his M.S. in Physiology in 1956. In the late 50s and early 60s, as a NASA consultant on Decompression Sickness, he helped train some of the country's first astronauts in diving at the Underwater Diving Training (UDT) Base in Little Creek, Virginia and St. Thomas before their first space adventures. It is believed he taught the late Senator John McCain to scuba dive. In 1963, he received a Ph.D. in Physiology from School of Medicine at University of Maryland. He continued as a ‘Weekend Warrior’ in the Reserves and was then assigned back to the NMRI when the Vietnam War came along. He was doing research in submarine diving medicine and the Navy figured the best way to learn about what you’re doing is to go do it. He was sent to submarine school in New London, Connecticut, where he experienced life on submarines. Recalling a funny moment when he first reported for service on a submarine, Lee said. “I reported for duty on my first sub, while wearing my naval aviator uniform. I came aboard the sub and the skipper says, ‘Wait a minute, you took a wrong turn somewhere.’ ” Lee was a wonderful storyteller, he loved jokes and sharing a good laugh with friends. To further his diving research in 1965, Lee received special permission due to his age, and was assigned to The Navy Diving School in Washington, DC, qualifying at the age of 42 as a mixed- gas, deep sea diver. He worked on research for Underwater Diving Teams ( UDT), and Navy Sea, Air, and Land Special Forces (SEALs). Lee was a guest of Jacques Cousteau aboard the “Calypso” research vessel, because of their mutual interest in diving and submarine safety. In 1970, the NIH hired Lee to review grant proposals for research on stroke, head and spinal cord injury, and neurological diseases. Lee was ahead of his time, with concerns for athlete’s concussions, stating, “While I was at NIH, I sent a report on head injuries to the NFL, but they dismissed it. I might have received a different response today.” He remained involved with the Navy after retirement; he was a teaching member of the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron, served as a Safety Officer on their boats and gave lectures on diving physiology to Trident scholars at the Academy. At the UHMS, Lee brought together scientists and doctors from around the world, to collaborate on hyperbaric and diving medicine. On behalf of UHMS, Lee and his wife Betty, enjoyed traveling to over 30 countries. His favorite place to visit, was Japan, where he made meaningful connections for UHMS, and long-lasting friendships. He was member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee of Underwater Physiology, a member of the Armed Forces Committee on Hyperbaric Medicine, a member Aerospace Medical Association, American Physiological Society, and on the board for Divers Alert Network (DAN) until 2003. On his Tartan 30 sailboat, ‘Cloudsong’, Lee loved to sail and race on the Chesapeake Bay. He organized and was commodore for both the Annapolis Sailing Association, and the Tartan 30 Association. He was a member, and a chairman, of the Cruising One Design of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association. After Lee retired, he was active in environmental causes, with the Chesapeake Environmental Protection Association, as a member for over 20 years and President of their Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2007. He started the Carrs Wharf Association, and served as its first President. He was a Board member of YMCA Camp Letts, Mayo Kiwanis, and Chesapeake Civitan. He sang at All Hallows Episcopal Church of Edgewater, and served on their vestry. Later in life, he studied the cello, and then played cello in the Anne Arundel Community College Orchestra. He was a great example of someone who gives, mentors, and teaches. His daughter, Jessica learned to sail, swim, and study anatomy, with him. He shared these lessons with many young people, and cared for many community members. He will be missed for his laughter, kindness, optimism, and perseverance. Lee was a loving husband, and father, and grandfather, and a loyal friend. He is predeceased by his brother Jesse Kilmore Greenbaum, and daughter Elizabeth Kilmore Greenbaum. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Katherine Kilgus, brother Arthur F. Greenbaum, daughter Jessica Ann Greenbaum (spouse Philip Lichtenstein), grandchildren Lily Sue and Aaron Lichtenstein, nieces Ann Greenbaum, Michele O’Connell, Marti Welch (spouse John), nephews Frank Greenbaum (spouse Susan), William Thomas (spouse Wendy), Tom Greenbaum, and Robert Greenbaum. Due to corona virus issues, a memorial service will be held at a later date.