Samuel Greenberg; Businessman, Philanthropist

Samuel Greenberg, a colorful San Fernando Valley businessman and member and frequent president of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, has died.

He had suffered a stroke in Taiwan, where he was accompanying a city trade and tourism delegation and was flown to North Hollywood, where he died Wednesday afternoon.

Greenberg, who came to the Valley by horse and wagon from his birthplace in Norwalk when he was only 2, was 81, said his daughter Sonia Feder.

A maverick liberal in a conservative area of the city, Greenberg founded one of the oldest truck and rental equipment businesses in the nation in 1931. Over the years, Sam’s U-Drive in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, West Los Angeles and Bakersfield, and the subsequent investments he made with their earnings made him a wealthy man.

But it wasn’t obvious.

He drove used cars, refused until recently to accept credit cards because the banks charged interest fees, wrote all business checks himself and opened every piece of mail that came into the office.

He paid cash for his vehicles and equipment and carried only liability insurance on them.

But he also shared his millions.

His philanthropies included the New Horizons Workshop in Sepulveda, where last year he helped build a cafeteria that bears his name.

He was appointed to the Airport Commission in 1973 and served as president for three two-year terms.

On Thursday, Mayor Tom Bradley said because of Greenberg’s “tremendous commitment,” the airport has “the best passenger service the city of Los Angeles could provide.”

Besides Feder, he is survived by a son, Steve, two daughters, Jill and Lynne, and 10 grandchildren. His wife, Helen, died in 1985.

A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth. His family will welcome friends at their Van Nuys home after the service, Feder said.

Contributions are asked for New Horizons, 15725 Parthenia Street, Sepulveda 91343.