KERMIT J. BERYLSON

BERYLSON--Kermit J., died on May 9, 2011 at age 97. He was a senior partner at KPMG in New York City, and was on General Eisenhower's staff planning D-Day in World War II. Born in NYC in March 1914, he received his BA and MBA degrees with distinction from City College of New York and Columbia University, respectively; worked on development of the Hoover Dam in Nevada before joining the armed forces; and was certified as a CPA in the states of New York, Illinois and California after the War. His military service began at the War Department in the Pentagon, moved on to the desert war in North Africa with General Patton, and then to SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) in London working on airborne logistics for the invasion of Continental Europe. After participating in the invasion, he rejoined General Patton in the 3rd Army fighting at the battles of Huertgen Forest and the Bulge (Bastogne). After U.S. victory at the Bulge, he was with the Allied troops held at the Elbe River by General Eisenhower in order to allow the Russian Army to be the first to enter Berlin. His War service included participation in the liberation of Paris, Munich and Dachau (concentration camp), was honored by four major service medals for valor, and culminated with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the war, while building his distinguished accounting career, he was also a member of the ERISA Advisory Council of the U.S. Department of Labor, was a management consultant to the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation, served as President of the New York State Society of CPAs, and was awarded the Royal Order of Vasa by the Kingdom of Sweden for services to the Crown. He was the loving and beloved husband of the late Marjorie Cantor Berylson for 50 years before her death. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his daughter and her husband, Jane and Stephen Flechner of Denver, and by his son and his wife, John and Amy Smith Berylson of Boston. He is also survived and remembered by his adoring grandchildren, Jennifer (and her husband Jonathan Block), Laura, James, and Elizabeth. He was respected and admired by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Private family interment service will be held at Mt Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson.