Benjamin Herman Obituary

HERMAN , Benjamin On June 6, 2011, Benjamin Herman , beloved brother of Samuel Herman of Towson, MD and Joyce and Herbert Friedman of Pikesville, MD; loving uncle of Mark Friedman, Gary and Donna Friedman and Ronald and Lili Friedman; loving great uncle of Aaron, Joshua and Zachary Friedman, Eric and Ryan Friedman, Abraham and Lena Friedman.
Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS., INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road, at Mount Wilson Lane on Friday, June 10, at 1 PM. Interment Anshe Emunah Aitz Chaim Cemetery - 3901 Washington Blvd. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to The JHU Writing Seminars Gift Fund Of Johns Hopkins University, Office of Annual Giving (DBF), 3400 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD (21218-2696). In mourning at 8917 Grummore Circle, Pikesville, MD 21208 Saturday evening from 6 PM until 9 PM.
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Published by Baltimore Sun from Jun. 7 to Jun. 9, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Benjamin Herman

7 Entries

Peter Lefferts

February 14, 2012

Ben Herman was one of the most influential mentors and enjoyable characters rising from the Dundalk school years of my wife Jane and myself.

"Mr Herman" influences us to this day. A prime example is our love of well written newspapers, Poe, Mencken and Hemingway, tales of the Sparrows Point steel mill community, and tales of the Chesapeake Bay.

We experienced all of this vividly in Ben Herman's classroom at North Point Junior High School..and in many get togethers with Ben after we graduated from Dundalk High School. We visited Ben periodically for three decades after leaving Dundalk in the early 1960's.

Ben Herman's writings and observations gave Baltimore, Dundalk, and the Chesapeake Bay country a touch of the "moveable feast" aura, like a blue-collar "Paris on the Patapsco."

His loving introspection into the grit and character of Baltimore's working people built an enduring empathy for unpretentious people of character. Ben Herman was such a person himself, with a wonderful added measure of intellect, dry humor, and sense of irony.

Ben Herman originated my interest in journalism, which led me to be editor of the Dundalk High School "Owl, where I worked with Jane Founds (DHS '59), another editor inspired in Ben Herman's classroom. Jane and I married in 1963. Now look forward to our 50th anniversary next year. We thank Ben Herman for sparking our interest in the Dundalk High School newspaper, where Jane and I first met and fell in love.

After college Jane and I lived and worked in several overseas countries for many years, a choice directly related to Ben Herman's daily classroom dialogues of global "current events." He asked thought provoking questions that foreshadowed major changes imminent in America.

So, I owe much to Ben Herman for my wonderful marriage and for a fulfilling international career experience. After our Dundalk days we returned several times for dinners with Ben Herman. He was a fine friend, great teacher, and a witty, delightful conversationalist. He had great and positive impact on the lives of Jane and myself.

When I visit high school classmates in Dundalk this spring, in memory of Ben I plan to walk to his former home on Kinship Road and reflect on a quietly joyful and inspiring person in the life of my family. Ben, we miss you.---Peter Lefferts (Dundalk High School 1959)

Diane Malkus-Shelton

June 14, 2011

I will always remember Mr. Herman as one of my favorite English teachers. I learned so much about writing from him at Patapsco High. He inspired a love of reading that I enjoy to this day. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

June 12, 2011

Oh, Sam. We are so sorry to hear about Ben's death-he was such a wonderful man! Our hearts are with you, Dick and Jan Wunderlich

June 9, 2011

Ben Herman was a longtime friend and fellow teacher and writer who inspired and encouraged me--as well as many others. His wit and charm were legendary, as was his love of ketchup! He made this world a bit brighter, and I thank God for having had him as part of my lifetime memories. Barbara Wernecke Durkin

Rae Rossen

June 8, 2011

Ben was a dear friend of my brother Meyer Sokolow and me since the 40s. I have all his books, and enjoyed discussing each one as soon as it was published. He was a sincere, talented, and a true friend.

Joyce Warble

June 7, 2011

Mr Herman was one of the most inspiring teachers I ever had. His readings from Edgar Allan Poe were unforgettable. And no one could ever forget his incredibly dry sense of humor, as he recounted stories of past students attempting to play tricks on him. And his coming of age stories of Dundalk and Baltimore brought back so many memories.
Joyce Tatum Warble

Loretta Staples

June 7, 2011

In sadness, but many pleasant memories and conversations at coffee time at Panera's.

Tommi Staples

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