Leonard Berger

Leonard Berger was born February 25, 1944 at the French Hospital in Manhattan, and died in his home, surrounded by his wife and two sons on June 27, 2023. He was the only son of Belle Ruth Weinstein (February 17, 1916-October 2, 1995) and Irving Berger (July 14, 1910-March 11, 1960). He is survived by his sister Nancy Horowitz (of California).

Len’s childhood was not always happy. His father suffered from rheumatic heart disease and died when he was 16 years old. Having skipped 2 grades in school, Len found himself at Bronx Science High School, young and lonely, struggling with his father’s loss.

His uncle Edgar became like a second father to him and provided guidance and love to him. His cousins Steven and Wendy were frequently at his side.

Len ultimately found joy summering in Long Beach, New York with his cousins and sister. From 1953-1958, he rode bikes, took in the sun, and enjoyed escaping to their shared rental cottage. The days were long and simple and these days seemed brightest of them all.

When college came, Len attended Hunter College and majored zoology and minored in chemistry. He went on to receive a Master’s degree from Lehman College and an Advanced Degree from Suny New Paltz. He was an educated man and, for a time, considered becoming a veterinarian. However, when the Vietnam war broke out, he decided on a career in education.

He was a gifted educator and taught in South Orangetown CSD, Rockland County, New York for 34 years, sometimes teaching several generations of the same family. In retirement, he taught at Marist College, Dominican University, and was an Adjunct professor at SUNY Orange where he focused on biology and environmental science classes. He was an avid reader, creative writer, and Jeopardy lover.

He was gifted with words and wrote touching cards and letters to his loved ones and friends. Fascinated by baseball, he wrote and published a book of baseball poetry. He enjoyed sitting on the deck, listening to the radio call of ball games, and gardening.

He married his beloved wife Joan Berger on June 28, 1970. Joan would say, “She had found the smartest guy in the Bronx.” He had just returned from a tour of Europe and Len would wow Joan with his worldliness, kindness, and “cute knees.” They met at Phi Sigma Delta fraternity and as mom proclaimed, “I chose him.” On a bench in the Marble Hill Housing project, he asked for her hand in marriage.

At age 33, Len was diagnosed with lymphoma. At the time, treatments were harsh and without nuance. He endured chemotherapy, held down a full-time teaching job, and fathered two children, Russell and Kenneth. He never allowed himself to say, “Why me?”

He was proudest of his sons and was present for all of their milestones from graduations to weddings to child births. He was with them for every high and low in their lives and shaped them into independent men of character and integrity. He strived to be the kind of father that illness prevented his own father from being. And he succeeded.

Over the last few months of his life, he got even closer with his sons. He shared his wisdom, his fears, his anxieties, and his successes. Even as his death approached, he was positive and provided comfort to his loved ones, even when he was the one needing comforting. He would say, “I am never giving up.”

His doctors could say he had cancer, but they could never say which kind---so called cancer of unknown primary origin. When it was found, it was all throughout his lungs and riddled his brain. Despite the brain involvement, until his last day, he was cogent and kind, gentle and stoic---the same way he had always been.

As death drew near, we parted ways with our hero, the man who made us possible. His love will go on forever in our hearts and minds. He touched many lives with his words and actions. When asked about life’s meaning, he offered spontaneously, “To die leaving the world a better place than you found it without regret.” We will all carry on in your spirit. We will find strength when we are afraid. We will turn towards the tide, let it strike us full on, or course over us with its warm, salty sting.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM in the Monadnock View Cemetery, 499 Park Ave. Keene, NH.  All are invited to meet directly at the cemetery for 11:45 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to:  The Shriners Hospital for Children, Free & Accepted Masons of New Hampshire or New York, ASPCA, Visiting Nurse Association of Manchester, NH (Hospice), Hadassah of Monroe, NY, MAZON, or to a charity of your choice.