Sidney Greenberg was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1924. His parents, Samuel and Miriam Greenberg, were Jewish immigrants. Upon completion of high school, Sidney took a daytime, civil servant, machine-operating job at the Springfield Armory. He attended night school at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. for one year. Knowing he had to complete his education, he applied to the University of Alabama's School of Engineering. He was accepted, and by joining ROTC and living at the Hillel House, he was able to graduate as an Aeronautical Engineer. Upon graduation, Sidney enlisted in the United States Air Force; was stationed at Fort Myers, at the Pentagon, and finally, completed his three years at Wright-Patterson Field where he was an aerodynamics engineer
To supplement his education, Sidney used the GI Bill to enroll at Boston University's School of Law. Sidney met his wife, Beatrice (Schneider) Greenberg of Hartford, CT in 1947, and they married in 1948. He transferred to the University of Connecticut Law School at night, and he accepted his first job as an engineer at Hamilton Standard so they could stay in the Hartford area. While employed at Hamilton Standard, Sidney assisted in the propeller designs for the DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, and Martin 202 and 404, and the Convair 240 and 480 airplanes. He also assisted in the design and development of military propellers for the C-47, C-54, C-130, P38, P-51, B-17, B-25, P-38 and P47 aircraft.
By 1951, Sidney had earned his law degree, became a member of the Connecticut Bar, and his wife had given birth to their first son, Gary. Louis Rogow, Beatrice's uncle, was impressed by his new nephew, and asked Sidney if he'd leave Hamilton Standard and join him at Birken Manufacturing Company; a small business Mr. Rogow owned. Sidney accepted his offer, and with his knowledge of aerodynamics, helped convert Birken from a gauge manufacturer to a manufacturer of precision jet-engine components and hydraulic assemblies. In his 22 years with Birken, Sidney rose from General Counsel to Secretary, and then to Executive Vice President and General Manager.
By 1976, Sidney Greenberg had become President of Birken Manufacturing Company. Mr. Rogow had retired, and Sidney purchased the controlling interest in the company from him. He developed the company's product mix to include sophisticated Fuel/Oil Match Valve Assemblies, Jet Engine Fuel/Pneumatic Controls, Bleed Valve Systems, Gearbox Assemblies, Landing Gear Sub-Assemblies, Turbine Exhaust Case Struts, Stator Vanes and Inlet Case Assemblies. In addition to Birken, he founded several additional companies. General Plasma Associates was one of the first plasma-surface treatment companies for aerospace components. General Plasma Associates introduced a unique line of coatings into the aerospace market in the 1970's that included Tungsten Carbide, Chrome Carbide and Magnesium Zirconate. With his late son, Todd Greenberg, Sidney began a successful marine-refrigeration company, which later developed solar-energy-powered refrigeration and irrigation systems. He and his son, Glen, started a highly successful turbine-engine component overhaul and repair facility, Turbine Controls, Inc. Turbine Controls' product line includes maintenance of Jet engine accessories and power-plant components. Two additional facilities, TC Power (land base gas turbine maintenance) and TC Logistics (surplus component sales) have also been added. With his son, Gary, Sidney developed 38 acres owned by Birken into an industrial park and created GFP Realty. There are currently six buildings on the property. Today, the Birken family of companies employs more than 250 employees in three facilities in Bloomfield, CT. U.S.A.
Sidney Greenberg is an honest, devoted and generous businessman and family man. He and his wife have been involved with many philanthropic organizations, including Israel Bonds, Jewish Federation, Hadassah, Easter Seals, the American Cancer Society, and the Guide Dog Foundation. He is a board member of the Hartford Rehabilitation Center, and has trained and employed handicapped individuals at Birken, who would, otherwise, not have had an opportunity to work. Believing firmly in education, Sidney has arranged college scholarship programs for employees' children by establishing the Birken-Rogow Foundation. He has served on the boards of local hospitals and banks, and still remains active in the family business. Sidney Greenberg and his wife, Beatrice, spend time in Florida and Connecticut, enjoying the company of their children and five grandchildren.