David Berman

SHIVA:
Shiva to be held Sunday, June 29th at Congregation Or Hadash, 7460 Trowbridge Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 at 6:00 PM. 

To attend Shiva via Zoom CLICK HERE. Password is Connect18.
 

OBITUARY:

After 97 years of life, David Berman died on June 23, 2025. David was born on August 20, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to Naftali and Marum Berman. David and his sister Lucille grew up close together. His parents were deeply dedicated to worker’s rights, including the right to unionize to protect jobs and income.

David served in both the US Navy and Army. After his service he met his wife Alice Becker when he was 24 through his sister Lucille. They were married in 1953 and had three boys.

In 1955 David began work at the Ithaca College School of Music, where he taught for 35 years, touching the lives of hundreds of students, some of whom remained in close contact with him. He was a passionate teacher and many of his student have gone on to become teachers as well. While in Ithaca David performed in the Ithaca College Woodwind Quintet, directed the opera, and engaged in a variety of community movements. David’s most prized student Leone Buyse often quotes Claude Debussy that “Music begins where speech fails. Music is intended to convey the inexpressible” and that reflects the same spirit that informed David’s love of music. David’s passion for music extended well into his 90’s. In 2020 David and Leone Buyse co-edited Three Duets for Two Flutes, David’s transcription of music for two violas by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach that is now published by Theodore Presser.

David and Alice built a family for their three sons Steve (Gita), Michael (Judy), and Daniel (Lauren) that reflected the values their parents had modeled for them back in the immigrant days of Chicago. Social justice was a dominant theme in the family. In 1963 David travelled to Washington to march with Dr. Martin Luther King and many others to promote equal rights for all American citizens. It was at this event that King delivered his eternally relevant “I have a dream” speech. David and Alice co-founded the Ithaca Association for Jewish Studies, a weekly Sunday School for Jewish students to learn about Jewish history and values, and they enrolled their children in Young Judaea, a Zionist youth movement. Their sons, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren remain active in Young Judaea. David and Alice took the family to Israel for a year sabbatical in 1965 and later added to their human rights efforts in the fight to secure freedom for embattled Jewish brothers and sisters in the former Soviet Union.

In 1990, David and Alice retired to Sarasota, Florida, where they continued their activities in the Jewish community. They were co-founders of the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Sarasota. David led the choir, and Alice was a lead singer. They were also active in American Friends of Peace Now and never missed an opera, Broadway play, or symphony concert during their years in Sarasota.

David’s greatest joy was his 8 grandchildren: Mara, Aviva and Shira Berman; Oren and Noah Berman; and Eitan, Gil, and Matan Berman. He would regularly take them on trips, host them for a week at their Sarasota home, and visit them while they were in college. They currently have 10 great grandchildren, with more to come.

After 71 years of marriage, Alice passed earlier this year. They had an incredibly adventurous spirit and traveled all over the world. Their ability to keep a lively, loving marriage and tight family connections have provided, and will continue to provide, role models for the family.

In 2019, David and Alice moved to Atlanta, Georgia to be closer to family. Although these years were difficult, with Covid and aging, David enjoyed simple pleasures such as listening to classical music and watching his favorite Florida sports teams. He relished visits from the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a true fighter, having survived multiple heart attacks, strokes, and 20+ years with Parkinson’s.

He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of Yiddishkeit, the importance of family, and a love of music. He will be missed by all who knew him. May his memory be for all a blessing.

The family wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to his home health aides Sandra Ferguson and Herfa Jones who cared for him the last 5 years.

Please direct donations in honor of David’s life to the following organizations:

Young Judaea Global
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
Ithaca College School of Music