James E. Lambert

LAMBERT, JAMES E., Jim Lambert, 62, a resident of Hillsboro Beach, FL passed away on June 16, 2008 of Respiratory Failure in Baltimore, MD with his wife, children and grandchildren at his side. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Jim graduated Mervo High School in 1963 and met his wife to be, Grace, that same year. Jim was drafted by the Army in 1965 and was eventually honorably discharged. He and his wife of 42 years, Grace, were married in 1966 while working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Jim began his land sales career at Sleepy Hollow in West Virginia with his cousin, Bob Bernstein. He soon became known as the man who could "sell everyone he talked to." In 1969, Jim became active in the Resort Property and Timeshare business and from 1971 to 1981 held the position of Senior Vice President of D.E.L. Marketing. Jim purchased the assets of that company and changed the name to DEL Management and was involved in the Marketing and Sales of 14 different Resort Properties located primarily in the Eastern United States. From 1983 to 1994, Jim directed The Berkley Group as Chairman and CEO as it became a leading
Timeshare Development Company with various resorts throughout the United States. In 1994, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was created and Jim gratuitously sold his company to its employees as opposed to the open market. The Berkley Group is currently involved in the development, sales, marketing and management of 10 Flagship Resorts and has additional operations at 43 other properties. While semi-retired for the past 10 years, Jim remained as a major force and influence in the continued success and future direction of the company. At the time of his passing, Mr. Lambert held the title of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. A man who appeared to so many as larger than life, Jim was really just one of the guys when it came to many of his hobbies and interests. As a lifelong avid sports fisherman, nothing pleased Jim more than to bring anyone and everyone who was interested aboard his boat the "Reel Tight" for an adventuresome day of fishing and a chance at catching the "big one." But Jim was a fisherman with compassion, always making sure to simply tag any of his or anyone else's catch and released it back to its sanctuary of the sea. Jim's interest in golf didn't actually benefit him with too many "hole in ones" but it was a wonderful outlet for his outgoing personality and sense of camaraderie. Jim and Grace Lambert were also well respected and appreciated for their far reaching Philanthropy. While their generous arm of giving reached into many places that most people never even knew of, they were enormously generous to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and the Hillsboro Women's League. In later years, Jim's most important role was that of "Pop-Pop" the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren. A day didn't go by that he wasn't involved in some aspect of one or more of their lives. He definitely will leave an influence on their lives that they will never forget. Jim Lambert is survived by his wife, Grace, of Hillsboro Beach; his four children, his son, Ricky Lambert and wife, Debbie, of Weston; his daughter, Debbie Austin and husband, Vince, of Ft. Lauderdale; his son, Jimmy Lambert and wife, Laura, of Hillsboro Beach; his son, Danny Lambert and wife, Esther, of Ft. Lauderdale; 10 grandchildren, Adam, Holly, Amy, Alex, Amanda, Tristan, Nikki, Taylor, Natalie and
Rachael; his brothers, Hugh Lambert, of Ft. Lauderdale; Ivin Bernstein, of Baltimore; Mike Bernstein of Baltimore; and his mother, Mary Elizabeth, of Wilton Manors. A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held for Jim Lambert at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on Thursday, June 26, 2008. Anyone wishing to pay their respects is invited between 6-9PM. The Boca Raton Resort and Club is located at 501 East Camino Real, Boca
Raton, FL 33432, 561-447-3000. The Lambert Family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of James Lambert be made to Weinberg ICU, John Hopkins Hospital, Weinberg 3A, 401 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-955-8822.