Edward J. Green, retired oceanographer
Edward J. Green, 90, passed away Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, at his home. Dr. Green, a resident of Rehoboth Beach, and formerly of Washington, D.C., was born in Bakersfield, Calif., where he grew up. He graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1958 and received a Ph.D. in oceanography from MIT in 1965. Subsequently, Dr. Green taught and conducted research at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and at the University of Maine at the Darling Marine Center. He is the author of numerous papers in the scientific literature on subjects ranging from chemical thermodynamics to dissolved gases in seawater. Drawing on his knowledge of the carbon cycle, he lectured on the threat of man-made global warming as early as 1961, well before it had reached national attention.
An authority on chemical oceanography, Dr. Green was with ONR for 20 years where under his direction, research initiatives were launched into the then-new fields of marine photochemistry, oceanic trace metal chemistry, and marine aerosols. He served as staff specialist to the Undersecretary of Defense for Research from 1983-84. He retired from ONR in 1996.
A member of DC Frontrunners, DC Ski Club, and Rainbow Divers, he was an avid runner, skier, scuba diver, and motorcyclist; he remained active until his death. He was a regionally ranked runner in his age group and was a familiar figure at local foot races ranging from 5 kilometers to marathon length.
An AIDS activist, Dr. Green served as a volunteer in vaccine studies at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. He was predeceased by his longtime companion, Stephen K. Ott, who died of AIDS. He is survived by his nephew, Parke Snavely III; his nieces: Pamela Adams and Deborah Lee; as well as several grand and great-grand-nephews and -nieces.
Services are private.
Final care has been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Visit Dr. Green’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
