Alvin Berr

Al Berr, who rose from temporary employee to deputy executive director of the New York State Council on the Arts and for decades helped guide the financial lifeline that kept dozens of nonprofit dance, theater and opera companies in business, died on Oct. 7 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. He was 97.

For much of his tenure at the council, Mr. Berr acted as a right-hand man to Kitty Carlisle Hart, the singer, actress and television personality who chaired the council from 1976 to 1996. He served two years as acting executive director.

Mr. Berr was born on April 30, 1928, in Passaic, NJ, the son of Jack and Rose Berr. He graduated from Pace College with a major in the arts and minor in accounting. He was drafted a month after graduation and served two years in the Army, mainly at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

Mr. Berr worked as general manager for a touring theatrical company and for the City Center Joffrey Ballet, and founded a small opera company, Opera Today, before joining the arts council. He served on the boards of the Friends of Straus Park, the Straus Historical Society and the Filomen M. D' Agostino Greenberg Music School for the visually impaired.

He is survived by sister Bernice Saks, niece Carole Saks, nephew Larry Saks, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews Rachel, Jason, and Scott.

A private funeral service was held in Naples, FL.

A memorial service in New York will be announced at a later date.