Dr. Lawrence E. Berkman

Dr. Berkman was born on January 21, 1958, in Fayetteville, NC; A son of late Att. Leonard B. Berkman and Suzanne (Persoff) Berkman. Larry married his beloved Lisa (Levonick) Berkman on April 23, 1994, in Cooper City, FL. In 1998, the couple welcomed their daughter, Alana Marie Berkman, into the world. Tragically, Lisa lost her battle with breast cancer in 2000, which left an unrepairable hole in both Larry and Alana’s heart. Larry later married Catherine (Carey) Berkman on July 7, 2002; their marriage ended in 2020.

Dr. Berkman was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy and continued his undergraduate education at Brown University in Providence, RI. One of Dr. Berkman’s proudest accomplishments from Brown University, aside from graduating Magna Cum Laude, was having a rock on Mars named after him by Professor Thomas A. Mutch, who led the Lander Imaging Team for the Viking Mission to Mars. Dr. Berkman finished his formal education at Boston University, where he earned his Doctor of Science in Dentistry. Dr. Berkman was a successful dentist for 35 years. He owned his practice in Hope Valley, RI, where he and Mrs. Lisa Berkman, a hygienist, practiced together.

Dr. Berkman possessed a keen intellect, with strong opinions and varied interests. Larry was an avid writer and coin collector; he enjoyed planetary geology, astronomy, history, and family genealogy. Larry’s passion for the NY Giants and Boston Red Sox was one that will not be forgotten.

In addition to his beloved daughter Alana and her fiancé, Kyle Faulise, survivors include a loving brother; Jonathan Berkman and wife Galia Napchan, as well as a niece, Maya Berkman, all of Cooper City, FL; Aunt Lois (Berkman) Ketover and husband Jerrold Ketover, of Hollywood, FL. Larry was predeceased by his parents Leonard and Suzanne Berkman, and beloved Aunts Sandra (Berkman) Fromm, and Judith (Berkman) Sikorski.

Larry had an abundance of cousins and friends all over the country with whom he kept in contact with and adored. Larry shared important parts of his life with his first love, Diane Cagle, as well as his ex-wife Catherine Berkman, her three children, and grandchildren. Larry had a lifelong friendship with Robert Mahoney, which he cherished. Further, Larry’s Brown University fraternity brother, Bill Grodski, was dear to him.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, January 28th at 11 a.m. at Church & Allen Funeral Home, 136 Sachem St., Norwich, with Rabbi Rosenberg officiating. A private burial will take place on a later date at Hebrew Benevolent No. 4 in Preston, where Larry will rest next to his beloved Lisa.