Martin M. Berman

1936 - 2022

Martin Mordecai Berman M.D., age 86, of Bloomfield CT, formerly of West Hartford, passed away unexpectedly in his home at Duncaster on Monday morning, December 5th. He was the beloved husband of Irene Levin Berman for more than 61 years. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Martin was born on February 19,1936 to Charles and Rose (Rabinowitz) Berman. Three years later he was joined by his sister Adele Russo. Martin spent his early life in Midwood, playing stickball with friends, drinking egg creams at the automat, and excelling in school. Well over 6' tall by his bar mitzvah, Martin, aka "The Bear, was a star center for the Poly Prep Country Day basketball team and a standout Latin student. Martin attended Princeton University and Downstate Medical School. He trained in Pathology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was Chief Resident followed by a Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering. During medical school, Martin also attended the University of London as a visiting student. While in London, Martin befriended a Norwegian student, Leif Levin, with whom he travelled through Europe. After seeing a photograph of his new Nordic friend's sister, Irene, who he learned was living in New York perfecting her English skills, Martin knew to whom he would make his first phone call upon returning to Brooklyn. Martin and Irene married in Oslo one year later. They spent two years at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, while Martin completed his military service, and soon thereafter settled in West Hartford, where they raised their three daughters. Martin became a staff pathologist at Hartford Hospital, later becoming Director of Anatomical Pathology. Martin was devoted to his work, and to teaching residents, at Hartford Hospital. Martin was blessed with many wonderful friends who shared his love of good food and wine, classical music, theater, opera, biography, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, travel, and tennis, where he was known for his killer serve. Ultimately however, it was family that gave Martin the most pleasure. Always up for a game of Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit, Martin was a constant source of astonishment to his children and grandchildren as he seemingly knew the answer to any conceivable trivia question. His grandchildren cherished his attendance at their recitals, sporting events, holiday gatherings, sleepovers, and Nantucket summer vacations, and felt blessed to have spent a wonderful Thanksgiving with their Grandpa two weeks ago. Martin is survived by his wife Irene, who unfortunately lives with dementia, his daughter Carrie Beth Berman and her husband Ronald Apter of Hartford, Adrienne Berman of New York City, Rosanne Berman and her husband Daniel Wichman of Greenwich, and his adored grandchildren: Emily, Marcus, and Charlotte Apter, Jacob and David Wichman, and Amalia Berman. A funeral will be held, with Rabbi James Rosen officiating, at the Beth El Cemetery, 51 Jackson Street, Avon on Thursday, December 8th at 11:00 am. The family will be receiving visitors for shiva outside their daughter Carrie's home immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation in Martin's honor to a charity of their choice. Funeral arrangements provided by Hebrew Funeral Association of West Hartford.