JOEL "BERT" FRIEDLANDER

FRIEDLANDER--Joel Bertram "Bert". December 16, 1929 -- January 15, 2026. Joel Bertram "Bert" Friedlander, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2026. He was 96 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 16, 1929, Bert was the son of Harold and Shirley Friedlander. He grew up in Brooklyn with his brother, Milton, and attended Long Island University. Following graduation, Bert joined his father's insurance firm on Nassau Street in Manhattan, beginning a long and respected career. Bert lived by the philosophy of "work hard and play hard." While he was deeply committed to a life in business, he was equally passionate about the world outdoors--whether he was sailing, skiing, fishing or golfing. One of his proudest achievements: building a home on the ocean in Bridgehampton in 1976. His journey through New York took him from New Rochelle to Harrison and Pound Ridge, before he eventually retired to the warmth of Stuart, Florida, in 1992. Above all, Bert loved his family and lived every day with a sense of gratitude. He is survived by his three children: Jill Ellen Robinson, Beth Ann Vacovec, and William Adam Friedlander; and his five cherished grandchildren: Kate and Jake Vacovec, David and Alexandra Friedlander, and Leah Robinson. He is also survived by the love of his life, the mother of their children, Judith. Bert will be remembered as a man of vibrant spirit who took great pride in the life he built and the family he loved so dearly.