Phyllis Berk

Phyllis Ruth Berk, nee Pike, age 80, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2026, in Westwood, Massachusetts, surrounded by family, after a courageous and decades long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born in 1945 in Brooklyn, New York, Phyllis graduated from James Madison High School and Brooklyn College, class of 1966. She married her junior high school sweetheart Norman, whom she had met at Cunningham Junior High School in seventh grade and whom she had accompanied as his date to his Bar Mitzvah. They married in 1967 and moved to Syracuse where Norman obtained his law degree, before they returned to Brooklyn. Ready for adventure, the two moved to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1972 where Norman transferred for job advancement. They lived in Birmingham for 42 years and raised three children there. In 2014, the two moved to Boston to be closer to family. They were married nearly 60 years.

Phyllis was a math major, which she applied to a long career in computer programming and information technology. She started at the Mutual of New York and later ran the information technology department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where one highlight of her career was ensuring the university systems survived the Y2K turnover.

Outside of work, Phyllis loved to spend time with family and a wide group of friends, including her campmates. She was a voracious reader, a daily walker, an admirer of hummingbirds, and a keeper of azaleas. She loved to laugh, listen to birds chirping in the backyard, hum her favorite tunes and share funny stories. Phyllis led by example and those that knew her would agree that she was kind, gentle-natured, compassionate and selfless.

Family was Phyllis’ main priority. Her spirit will live on in her family in every story shared and in the countless lives she touched. She is survived by her beloved husband Norman; her three children, Michael (Ellen), Barry (Jenny), and Rachel (Bruce); her eight grandchildren, Adam, Daniel, Sophie, Ariel, Serena, Mira, Josh, and Matt; her sister, Susan; her siblings-in-law, David, Stephen, and Roberta; her nieces and nephews; and her devoted aide, Dianah.

There will be a private funeral and burial on Friday morning, February 20. The family will sit shiva in Newton on Friday from 2-4pm, and in Needham on Saturday after Shabbat from 7-9pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (www.curealz.org) or CaringKind, the Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving (www.caringkindnyc.org).