Ruth Berman

Ruth “Ruthie” Berman , longtime private executive secretary to the Parker/Winarick family at the famed Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, NY died of natural causes on December 17, 2012 at the Mt Vernon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Alexandria, VA. Her daughter, Robyn Webb confirmed her death.

Mrs. Berman was a long time resident of Monticello, NY and moved to Alexandria, VA in 1991 after retiring from the Concord Hotel to be near her daughter Robyn to assist her in her business. For over 25 years she devoted her work life to the Parker/Winarick family at the resort in the area known as the Borscht Belt. Her husband, comedian Lee Berman, who preceded her in death in 1967 was the Social Director for the hotel for several years before his death. The couple first met at another famous hotel, upstate NY Hotel, Grossingers, and from there moved on to employment at the Concord. When the popular movie Dirty Dancing debuted, which was based on the upstate NY hotel and bungalow scene in its heyday , Mrs. Berman commented,” Yes, it was really like that. We had the dance people and all that food.”

At a tiny 4”10, Mrs. Berman held her own beautifully against the many demanding celebrities and sports figures she took care of at the hotel. Although she worked in a glamorous setting, Ruth was a most humble person. The most important thing to her were her two daughters, Andrea and Robyn, of whom she raised so strongly as a young widow.

She was active in the Monticello community serving in many organizations including Bnai Brith and was a past president of the local chapter of the City of Hope. She was a member for many years at Temple Shalom and was active in the sisterhood. Her circle of friends were very important to her and with her easy going personality, everyone loved being around her. When she moved in 2008 to the Chesterbrook Assisted Living Facility in Falls Church, VA she made many new friends at her advanced age and remained active there just up until August. Mrs. Berman two loves were the opera and animals.

Mrs. Berman was born on January 15th, 1924 in Newark NJ to a shoemaker Nathan Elias and the former Leah Ackerman. She is survived by her daughters, Andrea Adler of Jericho NY and Robyn Webb of Alexandria, VA and their husbands, a sister Ester Elias of New York, NY and a brother Harry Elias of Miami, Florida, many cousins, five nieces and nephews, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.