Arthur Bersin

BERSIN, ARTHUR Arthur Bersin was an ordinary remarkable man of the Greatest Generation, with a deep love for his family. He was born May 9, 1917, to Russian Jewish immigrants Jacob and Rose Bersin in New York City. He attended public school in New York and went on to attend the City College of New York and later, Columbia University School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1937. In 1941, one month before Pearl Harbor, Arthur married the love of his life, Mildred Laikin. Arthur quickly became part of the U.S. Army Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain. He was stationed in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Millie gave birth to their first son, Michael. After serving in the Army for four years, Arthur moved his family back to New York where their second son, Alan, was born. In New York, Arthur worked hard to provide for his family as the owner of four pharmacies over a span of 43 years. In 1980, Millie and Arthur moved to California. They lived and worked in Santa Monica for 20 years before Arthur, having lost his beloved wife in 1989, retired to San Diego in 1999. Since 2004, he has resided with his son Alan and his daughter-in-law Lisa Foster. Toward the end of his life, he continued to nurture his passion for current events, remained an avid reader, and followed college basketball with the watchful eye of a former star. Arthur, "Gramps," left this life as the proud grandfather of Scott and Eva Bersin, Robyn and Sam Littman, Alissa Bersin and Zach Miller, and Madeleine and Amalia Bersin. He was also privileged to know his six great-grandchildren, Mallie, Jack, Amy, Shayne, Emily and Sam. Arthur was a tough man with a gentle heart. He died peacefully in his sleep at home on February 10, 2009. He is both sorely missed and lovingly remembered.