Berdie Mandelkern

Bertha (Berdie) Mandelkern passed away on August 5, 2016 at the age of 96 after a long illness. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Leo Mandelkern, to whom she was married for 60 years. Berdie is survived by her sons I. Paul (Holly) of Winter Park, Florida, Marshal (Wendy) of New Haven, Connecticut, and David (Terylin) of Hillsborough, California; four grandchildren Gail (Reed) VanMatre, Ben, Joel and Matt Mandelkern; and two great-grandsons Aaron and Joshua VanMatre.

Berdie was born in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up there and in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Brooklyn, New York. She dropped out of college and worked for the United States Army during World War II. During that time she met Leo on a blind date, and they were married in 1946 after he returned from overseas service with the United States Army Air Corps. They lived in Ithaca, New York, and Takoma Park and Silver Spring, Maryland before they moved to Tallahassee in 1962 when Leo became a professor at Florida State University. Berdie was a devoted wife to Leo and mother to her three sons. She was also a community volunteer. Among her community activities, she was a Cub Scout den mother; taught Sunday School at Temple Israel in Tallahassee for many years; and volunteered at the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and the Museum of Florida History. After her children were grown she returned to college and earned two bachelors degrees from FSU.

Graveside services will be held at the Temple Israel section of Oakland Cemetery, 838 N. Bronough Street in Tallahassee, at 10:00 am on Sunday, August 7th, with Rabbi Stanley J. Garfein officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Berdie's name to Temple Israel, 2215 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 or the charity of your choice.