Alfred Berg

Alfred Berg, 92, beloved husband, father, uncle, and friend, passed away on July 30, 2023, in Nyack Hospital, NY, after a short illness. Born in Rockenhausen, Germany, in 1930, Al and his younger brother, Stanley, were Holocaust survivors, while his parents, Friederich and Karola perished in Auschwitz. Transported first to a children’s home in Northern France, and then to one in Southern France, Al and his brother then travelled to Portugal. There, they boarded the Serpa Pinto and crossed the Atlantic, landing at New York City, where they were taken in and raised by their aunt and uncle, Bertel and Otto Schwarz, on the upper West Side of Manhattan.

Al and his wife, Ruth, met in 1950 and were married in 1954, and then settled in Bergen County, NJ. Al graduated from the NJ Institute of Technology in 1958 and also obtained his Master’s degree in civil engineering. Shortly after, Al and Ruth moved to West Nyack, NY, where they raised two daughters. Al served as the Town Engineer for Clarkstown and then worked as an engineer for the NYC Transit Authority. In addition, he taught Engineering courses at nearby colleges and was involved in tutoring elementary school children through Sylvan Learning. Al was very active in the Men’s Club at the Nanuet Hebrew Center for many years and remained an active member there and at the Holocaust Museum in Spring Valley, after his retirement. During this time, Al and Ruth visited Rockenhausen, where they were able to speak to town historians about the Holocaust and see pictures of his parents and relatives. Al shared his Holocaust experiences with young people in Rockland County as part of a local educational program, was interviewed by the Forward magazine about his early experiences, and participated in reunions of the One Thousand Children, a group of Jewish Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the US without their parents.

Al leaves behind his loving wife, Ruth, two devoted daughters, Karen and Amy, his sister-in-law, Deborah, two nieces, Karola and Raquel, and many friends. Alfred was predeceased by his brother, Stanley Berg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education, at Rockland Community College, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY, 10901.

Funeral services for Alfred will be held Thursday, August 3, 2023, 1:00 PM at Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977. Interment will take place immediately following services at Beth El Cemetery, 735 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 (845) 356-8600 Jewish Funeral Directors

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hellmanmemorial.com for the Berg family.