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Obituary: MSU professor emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Communication dies

July 30, 2018
<p>Courtesy of the Greenberg family</p>

Courtesy of the Greenberg family

Brad Greenberg, a retired MSU professor of over 50 years, died July 26 after a battle with cancer.

Most known for his spearheading research into mass media and the relationship it holds with society, Greenberg was also recognized as a Distinguished Professor at MSU and received several awards for his work in communications.

His research on topics like race and sexuality in several of his books like "Media, Sex and the Adolescent" and "Mexican Americans and the Mass Media" brought attention and depth to how communicators navigate media as it evolves.

Greenberg's daughter, Beth Morrow, said his professional and personal life were both led with compassion. He wrote dedications in his books thanking his wife and children.

“He taught us to value our privileged lives in a way that made us empathetic and compassionate towards those that were less privileged and less fortunate," Morrow said. "He was for all his accomplishments, a humble person, an honorable person. Our childhood in East Lansing Michigan, it was idyllic.”

Morrow said her father was a Spartan fan for the ages, holding not only season football and basketball tickets, but also attending volleyball and golf events, wearing one of his several Spartan green sweaters.

“He had a real love for the campus, for the grounds, for what Michigan State represented to the community and he was just so proud to wear Spartan apparel and I think every year for Christmas he would buy his grandchildren Spartan gear,” Morrow said.

Greenberg is survived by his wife Delight Greenberg of 59 years, their three daughters, Beth Morrow, Shawn Marie Leven and Debra Dunn, and his eight grandchildren.

The Greenberg family is holding a memorial service welcoming students, faculty, staff and anyone from the public who was impacted by Greenberg. The service will be held at the Kellogg Center on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 2 p.m.

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