Irwin Louis Berger

Irwin, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend, died peacefully after a year of declining health. He will always be remembered for the devotion he had to his family, for proudly serving his country during WWII, and his passion for comparison shopping, balancing his accounts and Jewish rituals.

He was born in Lower Manhattan, NY, and grew up there as well as in Norwalk, CT and the Bronx, NY. He graduated from Evander Childs High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), now known as Baruch College, part of the City University of New York, with a degree in Business Administration. Between high school and completing his university degree, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific as a clerk on the newly-commissioned USS Antietam, an Essex-class aircraft carrier. After his two years of service, he returned to CCNY, earned his degree and joined the public accounting firm of J.K. Lasser, where he qualified as a CPA. He also worked for the accounting firm of Joseph Warren & Company. He most enjoyed working on the accounting side of publishing, spending time with avant-garde publisher Grove Press and Harold Fagan before joining and retiring as the Assistant Director for the United Furniture Workers of America Insurance and Pension Funds (UFWA). On December 11, 1955, he married Alma, his wife of 62 years, before she passed away in 2018. They spent their first three years of married life in Bronxville, NY before moving to New City, NY, where they raised their family. His position with UFWA led to his relocation to Brentwood, TN in 1979 and he later moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL in 1998. Between his retirement in 1991 and the move to FL, he became a Real Estate Affiliate Broker representing CRYE-LEIKE. Once in FL, he and Alma enjoyed continuing education opportunities through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University and the Florida Society for Middle East Studies, attending exhibitions at the Norton Museum of Art, and frequent visits to see their family, especially the grandchildren. He spent the last year of his life in Assisted Living Facilities in Cary, NC.

He is survived by his daughter, Brett and her partner, Roy (London, England); son Todd and daughter-in-law, Tracy (Cary, NC); grandsons Travis (Lanham, MD) and Tyler (Charlotte, NC); brother and sister-in-law Ted and Ellen Berger (Palm Beach, FL); and niece Holly Karetsky and her family Gary (spouse), Ryan, Zachary and Daniel (sons, Rye Brook and Manhattan, NY).

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program: Duke Cancer Institute. Donations can be made online: www.gifts.duke.edu/cancersupport or by check, mailed to: Duke Cancer institute Development Office c/o Kristy Sartin 300 W. Morgan Street, Suite 1200, Durham, NC 27701. In the memo line, please click on or write: "In memory of Irwin L. Berger."

A graveside service will be held at Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652 on Tuesday, March 15th at 11 am.