T.S. Greenwood, business leader, volunteer, golfer

Thomas Shaw Greenwood, 86, scion of Philadelphia's Global Dye Works Co., a descendant of the electronics inventor Thomas Shaw, a World War II veteran, a skilled golfer and a tireless volunteer, died Oct. 27 at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown of an antibiotic-resistant staph infection.

Mr. Greenwood, who was interviewed in September for WHYY-TV's local segment of Ken Burns' World War II documentary The War, was a longtime resident of Chestnut Hill before moving to the Meadowbrook retirement home in Skippack three years ago.

"Mr. Greenwood told an amazing story of when he was stationed in the Pacific as a first lieutenant with the Fifth Army Air Corps," said Anne Standish, a WHYY radio personality and the producer of audio-video interviews of more than 100 regional World War II veterans as a companion to Burns' documentary.

"Mr. Greenwood was standing alone on an air strip in New Guinea when he saw a bearded man in tattered clothes being escorted out of the jungle by two natives," said Standish.

Mr. Greenwood said in the WHYY interview: "The man approached me. He was wearing only one shoe, and the other foot was covered in leaves. He looked me in the eye and said, 'Tommy Greenwood?' I said, 'Tommy Moffett?' " It was Mr. Greenwood's fellow graduate, Thomas Moffett, from Moorestown Friends School, Class of 1940.

Except for the televised interview, Mr. Greenwood rarely spoke of his war memories, said son Thomas "Tim" Jr.: "He seemed to put the bad memories of combat with the Japanese behind him. He was a humble man who lived a full, happy life."

Shortly after being discharged from the Army, while on the way home to Philadelphia, the young officer in uniform met Kentucky debutante Rosalind McMeekin at a party at Churchill Downs. They were engaged three weeks later and soon married.

The Greenwoods lived the good life in Chestnut Hill for 56 years, where they raised two children. She was a founder and lifelong promoter of the Federation Cup women's tennis tournament and he an avid golfer. She died in 2001.

"They were a beautiful couple," said Allison Romig, owner of an Ambler catering business. "He gave me my first job catering his Kentucky Derby party on his grand lawn with tents, linens, red roses, television sets, bets being placed and his petite beauty, Roz, who wore a traditionally decorated hat. Mr. Greenwood taught me how to make a proper mint julep and serve it in silver cups. It was perfect."

Mr. Greenwood was a grandson of Thomas Shaw - namesake of the Shawmont section of Roxborough - who was dubbed the "Thomas Edison of Philadelphia" in a 1901 New York Times article.

Mr. Greenwood worked for Global Dye Works Co. in Frankford - founded by his great-grandfather in 1865. He earned a bachelor's degree in sales and marketing in 1947 from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science by taking courses at night.

He rose to president of the firm before retiring in 1985.

As a boy, Mr. Greenwood lived along the Moorestown Field Club course, where he often played nine holes in the mornings before school. He was a lifetime competitive player who made friends through golf worldwide.

Mr. Greenwood was a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland; Pine Valley Golf Club; U.S. Seniors Golf Association, and Sunnybrook Golf Club. He was president of the Golf Association of Philadelphia and was on the board of Pine Valley. He also served as president of the Philadelphia Cricket Club, where he played squash and tennis.

His other passions were backgammon and bridge, which he played until a few days before his death.

Mr. Greenwood was a generous volunteer, serving the Easter Seal Society and United Cerebral Palsy, and was on the board of Germantown Hospital for nearly 20 years before volunteering at a hospice in Naples, Fla.

At age 80, he was reunited at a cocktail party with Patricia "Tris" Bottomley Webb, a twice-widowed friend from Radnor whom he had not seen in 40 years. They married in 2002 and had homes in Philadelphia, Stone Harbor, N.J., and Naples.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Greenwood is survived by a daughter, Margaret, and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. Burial is private.

Donations may be made to United Cerebral Palsy, Development Department, 102 E. Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia 19118.