Jon S. Berk

Jon Berk, of Cromwell, CT, passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Jon will be remembered as a beloved father, husband, grandfather, brother, and son. Perhaps best known for his nationally acclaimed comicbook and memorabilia collection, his greatest joy beyond family was to quietly acquire and organize Golden Age, Silver Age, and earlier comic collectibles - a career capped by his unearthing of the Larson Collection in the 1990s. His passion for education and his encyclopedic knowledge drove him to be an active and respected contributor to comicbook community discussions. Although an attorney by training, he was as much an expert of the comic universe, rubbing elbows with the artists and the titans of the industry. A life-long partner at Hartford's Gordon, Muir and Foley, Jon had a tremendous impact on Connecticut law. He was described by his law partners as "one of the most brilliant lawyers" they had known. Jon was a man of great wisdom and also great wit. He argued several cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court while sprinkling his published law books with clever puns and signature quips. If you knew Jon, you would likely remember his ever-ready jokes. Jon's home was filled with music - Broadway musicals, Motown, and a dizzying array of obscure artists. If one was stumped by a song title, artist, or album name, Jon always knew the answer. He loved the beauty of the natural world, becoming both an avid gardener and an impressive photographer of flowers, insects, and family. Anyone who spent more than five minutes with Jon had to be prepared to talk about the New York Yankees. Inevitably, summer nights found him on his porch listening to the play-by-play while narrating from his detailed memory of past players, games, and gaffes. Jon is survived by his son Zack and his wife Lauren, daughter Arianna and her husband John, ex-wife Bonnie, stepfather Walter and his wife Myra, brothers Bruce and Edward and their wives Becky and Margaret, sister Pam, brother Andrew, and many in-laws, nephews and nieces. He was overjoyed to meet and hold his first grandchild, Cy, in the weeks before his death. Details on a celebration of Jon Berk's life will be forthcoming.