Kenneth Myron Greene

Kenneth Myron Greene passed away December 16, 2021 at his home in Falls Church, VA, surrounded by his loving family. He was 101.Born on August 16, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio, Ken was the son of William E. and Rose F. Greene. He attended Brown University as a John Hay Scholar, graduating summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in 1942.From 1942 to 1946 he served in the U.S. Army, rising in rank from private to captain. He served as a line officer in the 3rd Infantry Division in France. Twice wounded in combat, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster.After the war, he entered graduate school at Columbia University, where he earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in English. He taught English at Simmons College in Boston, MA, where he was also Director of the School of Education. In 1970, he accepted the presidency of Lasell Junior College in Auburndale, MA; and in 1975 he moved to Washington, DC to head the national office of the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa.In 1949, he married Anne Ziemba of Chicopee, MA, whose talents and devotion gave him unfailing support throughout their more than 70 years of marriage.Greene retired from Phi Beta Kappa in 1989, at which time the Phi Beta Kappa Senate stated in a resolution of appreciation that he "has presided over the affairs of the Society with unmatched skill and intelligence and almost superhuman imperturbability,...leaving as his legacy an organization immeasurably stronger than the one whose direction he assumed in 1975."Greene was predeceased by his sister, Marjorie Hazeltine. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Anne F. Greene, of Falls Church, VA; two daughters, Jocelyn Greene, of McLean, Virginia (John Beyrle) and Janet Greene (Daniel McIntosh), of Minneapolis, MN a son, Kenneth Greene, Jr. (Cathy Flax), of Baltimore, MD; and five grandchildren. A burial service at Arlington Cemetery will be scheduled for the spring of 2022.

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