Charles M. Greene, 78, former Verizon manager and deputy mayor of Philly
Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Greene never seemed rushed because he managed his time efficiently, his daughter said.
Charles M. Greene, 78, of Fort Washington, a longtime executive of what is now Verizon Communications and a former Philadelphia deputy mayor, died Monday, June 26, of cancer at his home.
In the 1990s, Mr. Greene served as deputy mayor for intergovernmental relations under Mayor Ed Rendell.
In 1994, he ran unsuccessfully against Rosita Youngblood as a Democrat for the 198th District House seat in Northwest Philadelphia, being vacated when Bob O'Donnell ran in the Democratic primary for governor.
Mr. Greene held numerous senior management positions at companies and institutions in the Philadelphia area, including Bell Atlantic, which became Verizon in 2000.
He was hired in 1985 to manage customer services, and with a stop in public affairs he continued up the career ladder. Before leaving the company in 1993, he was manager of installations/repairs in the city, facilities construction, and the business office.
He was an assistant vice president for development at Howard University in Washington, and from 1995 until 1999 was managing regional vice president at Lockheed Martin IMS.
In April 2006, he was named executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities by President George W. Bush. In that role, he worked with the 32 federal agencies that provided grants and contracts to HBCUs, and served as the liaison between the executive branch and the schools, according to the professional journal Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
"Charles' broad experience in business, community development and government will be a tremendous asset in his work on behalf of the nation's many historically black colleges and universities," Margaret Spellings, secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, said when the appointment was announced.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Greene graduated from Northeast Catholic High School and earned a bachelor's degree in 1962 from Virginia Union University in Richmond, a historically black university.
He did graduate study at the University of Pennsylvania's Fels School of Public Administration and the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Business.
Over the years, he remained engaged with his alma mater and the broader community of historically black colleges and universities. "He was very proud of that," said daughter Chandra.
He served as chairman of the United Negro College Fund 1989 Parade of Stars Telethon and president of the Marshall L. Sheppard Chapter of the Virginia Union University Alumni Association.
In 1999, Mr. Greene was named Virginia Union University alumnus of the year. He also served a term on the alumni association board.
A busy civic volunteer, he was a board member of Philadanco, Cheyney University Foundation, Cheyney University Council of Trustees, Women's Christian Alliance, Boy Scouts of America–Philadelphia Council, Philadelphia Crime Commission, Interim House, Workforce Investment Board, Variety Club, Freedom Theatre, and Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corp.
He also served on the board of directors of several corporations, including PRWT Services Inc., the Philadelphia Tribune, and West Insurance Group.
Mr. Greene was an active life member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a longtime member of the National Negro Golf Association.
Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Greene never seemed in a rush because he managed his time efficiently. "He was a wonderful dad. He would play with us and take time with us. He golfed all the time. You have to wonder how he managed it all," his daughter said.
He was married to Carolyn J. Greene from 1962 to 1992, when they divorced. She survives.
Besides his former wife and his daughter, he is survived by daughters Cheron Greene-Coleman and Brittany Kelly; three grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
A viewing starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 6, will be followed by a 10 a.m. funeral service at Canaan Baptist Church, 5430 Pulaski Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19144. Interment will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to the church at the address above.