Ex-radio executive Martin Greenberg dies at 79

A former Belo Corp. radio executive who lived in McKinney died this week. Martin Greenberg, who worked at radio stations across the U.S. and in Europe, was 79.

Greenberg was born April 6, 1941, in New York. He worked for New York radio station WMCA-AM, an ABC affiliate, as a trainee, and later for ABC stations in Detroit, Houston and Chicago.

In 1979, he moved back to New York as president of ABC’s FM radio group, overseeing a number of stations nationwide. In the early 1980s, he briefly worked for the Belo Corp. in Dallas as head of the company’s radio division. After that, he lived in North Texas until his death.

He was an executive at a number of other radio chains, including president of Emmis Broadcasting International, where he oversaw the company’s expansion into central Europe.

Greenberg held leadership roles in a number of regional and national industry organizations, including the International Radio and Television Association, the Greater Chicago Radio Broadcasters Association and the Illinois Broadcasters Association, and he served in multiple roles with the National Association of Broadcasters. He also was on the board of Dallas’ community cable network iMedia, North Texas Public Broadcasting and the University Park Public Library.

In retirement, Greenberg sang in the choir at Temple Emanu-El and volunteered at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas and Frisco.

He was an avid runner and cyclist as well as a qualified Spin instructor. According to a 2014 profile of Greenberg in , he taught Spin classes three to five times a week at Town North and Plano Family YMCAs.

Greenberg is survived by his wife, Elin Greenberg; children Corey Greenberg, Ann Marie and Mark Greenberg, and Jennifer and Peter Roberts; and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Plans for a memorial service are pending. Donations in memory of Greenberg can be sent to the nonprofits No Kid Hungry, the North Texas Food Bank and Genesis Women’s Shelter.