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ALEXANDER BERNSTEIN

ALEXANDER BERNSTEIN Obituary

BERNSTEIN--Alexander, The family of Alexander Bernstein is devastated to report his passing on July 22. Father of Anya, brother of Nina and Jamie, devoted uncle, loyal cousin, and beloved friend to so many, Alexander was a profoundly generous and compassionate human being, inspiring those same qualities in everyone who encountered him. He was also the funniest person we've ever known. Contributions can be made in his memory to Artful Learning, the visionary teaching model he developed to infuse creativity into the entire school curriculum. Artful Learning, Inc., 121 West 27th Street, Suite 1104, NY, NY 10001.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Jul. 26, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for ALEXANDER BERNSTEIN

19 Entries

Lynne Harriton

Yesterday

Alexander.... I don´t believe it. Sweet, generous, kind, funny, thoughtful, considerate, talented, sweet - oh, I said that already. We were in NYU´s English Education Masters degree program. Of the 36 credits that create a Masters degree, Alex and I were in the same class for 24 of them. That creates a sense of ease and comfort, and we had that, Alex and I, as Alex did with many of our classmates. He was so easy to like. I really feel sad about this. I am glad he got the chance to really use the marvelous education we received in our NYU program. Oh, Alex, I´m sorry death came so early to someone as sweet as you. Lynnie

Emma-Jane Wyatt

Yesterday

From Chichester, England we send our deepest sympathies to Alexander's sisters and family. We are colleagues of Bernstein in Chichester, organisers of the Chichester festivities in 2018 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Alexander's father.

Alexander was a wonderful supporter when he generously made his way to Chichester in 2018 to join the end of the city's festivities. The evening before the performance of Chichester Psalms it was a thrill to hear Alexander in conversation with choristers of 1965 who had reunited for the event. The Bernstein presence was palpable. The following evening Alexander leaped out of his seat, as I gather his dad had done back in 1965, and led the tumultuous applause in Chichester Cathedral after a roof-raising performance of Chichester Psalms given by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the choirs of the Southern Cathedrals Festival under the baton of Marin Alsop.

Alexander was to have returned this May to unveil a plaque to commemorate his father and Chichester Psalms within the precincts of Chichester Cathedral itself. Alas Alexander was unable to make that journey.

The patron of the plaque unveiling, Dame Patricia Routledge, graciously stood in for him and she comments:

"I express my profound sympathy to the Bernstein Family on this sad occasion.

My association with the Family holds a special place in my heart.

I was proud to stand in for Alexander when it was recently impossible for him to unveil the Bernstein Plaque on the Prebendal School wall at Chichester Cathedral.

The performance, which followed later, of the Chichester Psalms was very fine, and received by a full congregation".

Bernstein in Chichester join with our patron Dame Patricia in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the family.

A devastating loss but his memory, humanity, graciousness and presence that we had the pleasure of enjoying in 2018 will live on.

Jane Stockton

July 29, 2025

From the second I met Alexander I knew he was a very special Soul. Such deep and fond memories now flood my mind and heart. Shattering news.
My deepest condolences to Jaime, Nina and Anya and all those in his life who loved him.

"We did not come to remain whole. We came to lose our leaves like the trees, Trees that start again, Drawing up from the great roots." Robert Bly

With much love and sadness-Jane

Katharine

July 29, 2025

Alex was my assistant teacher for Second Grade. I have two very distinct memories of him. One was when we were given a test we didn´t know about ahead of time and he saw how nervous I looked and came over to make sure I was ok and reassure me that everything was fine. He took his time and waited until he felt like I seemed better. I can´t remember what he said and I don´t even remember feeling nervous but he pointed out this apparent test taking anxiety I had to my parents so they could help as well. Alex was the first to notice it and do something about. He was so kind and gracious and concerned with us, his students. We were lucky to experience him as a teacher.

Milka De Jesus

Planted Trees

Mavra Payan

July 29, 2025

Jamie, Nina and Anya my heart it´s broken my deepest condolences for the passing of Alex I will forever remember him as he was an incredible nephew and a great man. May he rest in peace.

ORIN OBRIEN

July 28, 2025

My deepest condolences to Jamie and Nina for the loss of your dear brother.

David kramer

July 27, 2025

My mother was Janet Resnick, Leonard's 1st cousin. Born in Lawrence. I was born in Worcester.
We tried to contact the family on many occasions when the movie came out and didn't receive a reply.
I had the opportunity to see Leonard in Philadelphis in the 80's while conducting and visited with him after the concert with my mom, and father Lou Kramer.
I'm now 72 and was very sorry to hear about Alex's passing.
Heartfelt condolences to the Bernstein family.

Hillary Brown

Planted Trees

Susan Dickler and Sig Van Raan

Planted Trees

Judy Blazer & Will Kaufman

July 27, 2025

Our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Bernsteins on this devastating loss. Love to Anya, Nina and Jamie.

What a kind, gentle man Alex has been to so many. There was never an encounter with him that wasn´t warm and genuine.

We cannot not imagine the pain of this unfathomable farewell.

Our hearts are with you.
Rest well, Dear Alex.

Susan Dickler

July 27, 2025

Alexander was a compassionate, loyal and fun friend. I have so many memories of wonderful times with him. I loved him as did so many others. RIP Alex.

William Stivelman

July 26, 2025

I knew Leonard Bernstein through Horst Haschek, the President of the Wiener Gesellschaft der Müsikfreunde in the late 1970s, when Lenny was especially busy in Vienna. I am saddened to hear about Alex´s death and want to express my condolences to his sisters.

Thomas Kay

July 26, 2025

So many great memories of Alex when we were together at Tanglewood in 1971. My thoughts and prayers go out to you Jamie and Nina. Wonderful funny guy.

Letty Ferrer

July 26, 2025

You will be sorely missed Alex. You can now join your father, and Uta my mother. All my love. Letty

Miriam Assor

July 26, 2025

Baruch Dayan HaEmet.

Richard S. Ginell

July 26, 2025

I treasure the occasion when I met Alexander. He visited the Skirball Center in Los Angeles hosting an exhibit honoring his father during his centenary celebrations. I was writing a story on the exhibit for the Los Angeles Times, and we had a long, wonderful conversation about all matters Lenny. We stayed in touch on email for a little while after that. My heartfelt condolences to Jamie, Nina, and the rest of the extended Bernstein family.

Lorca Peress

July 26, 2025

Dear Bernstein Family:
I send my deepest condolences to you all. I only met Alex a few times, as kids and again at my father´s shiva, but his warmth and sincerity came through. I´m glad to hear he was also funny. Thinking of you all during this tragic time.
Lorca Peress

Liz Thomson

July 26, 2025

Working last year with Jamie on a Beatles event, she told me that her brother would be in the audience. She´d talked often about him, and Nina, but I´d never met him and asked her if he was the Alexander Bernstein who been in that wonderful movie The Book of Daniel. "Yes!" she replied, "and he´ll plotz if you mention it to him!" I´m a Brit so had to Google "plotz." When we met briefly a few days later I did indeed mention it and he did indeed plotz, giving me a hug and a big warm smile. One of those people you wish you´d got to know.
I was so very sad to hear the news. Having read Jamie´s memoir and then got to know Jamie herself through The Village Trip and found her to be warm and wonderful, one of life´s great enthusiasts, I know how close the three siblings were. She talked often about her family, and the love shone through her conversation. What a terrible blow.
My love and heartfelt sympathies to all his family. Artful Learning, such an important project, will be Alexander´s living legacy.

- Liz

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