Berman, John Arthur

John Arthur Berman 2/29/1932 – 10/25/2022

John Arthur Berman celebrated 22 birthdays. He grew up in West Hartford, attending Sedgwick School and graduating from Hall High School in 1950. John received a BA from Wheaton College (IL) in 1954.

John met his first wife Beverly Conant Fuller at Wheaton, and they married in 1957 upon his graduation from UConn Law School. John and Beverly had four children – Timothy Conant (who died of cancer at age 21), Arthur Jay, Virginia Ann, and Emily Muriel. Beverly died of breast cancer in 1992.

In 1957 John joined his father Attorney Jacob Berman as Berman and Berman. In 1970 he was joined by Courtney B. Bourns and the law firm became Berman and Bourns. In 1958 John joined the Army National Guard and retired as a 2nd Lieutenant.

John developed a keen interest in corrections after taking a criminology course at Wheaton. In 1961 John and a small group of young idealists formed a 501(c) 3 organization, Connecticut Halfway House, Inc., a transitional neighborhood residence for men reentering society from prison. It was a controversial concept at the time such that its existence was challenged in court. After long-running litigation the concept was upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court. John served as its president and as a director for many years. Today the organization is known as, Community Solutions, Inc. with facilities throughout the United States and a large (mainly government) funded budget.

The original mortgage to finance the purchase of the Hartford halfway house residence was provided by Watkinson Prisoners Aid Society, a charitable foundation which John served for many years as president, trustee, and as a board member until his death. John was a founder and board president of The Street Ministry of West Hartford, Inc. in the late 1960s. This organization, later called, Hope Works, was a program for local youth who were alienated from their parents and society. One feature of this program was, The West Hartford Net, which provided safe housing with host families to young runaways while the “Street Minister” mediated a solution with the parents, juvenile justice system, and the young person.

John was an early member of the Board of Directors of HARC during its formative years. He served as a director of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Inc. He was a corporator of Hartford Hospital, an elector for the Wadsworth Atheneum, a trustee of Klingberg Family Services (New Britain), and was involved with many smaller charitable organizations, often involving corrections and people with disabilities. He served as chair of the West Hartford Parks and Recreation Committee in the early 1970s. He was a member of Swifts Inn until his death.

As active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1958, John and Beverly served as church school teachers, youth leaders, and in numerous leadership roles. John was instrumental in the 1970s in Westminster Church buying a large multi-family home in West Hartford in partnership with the Quaker Meeting House. They formed a non-profit corporation called Church Action, Inc., which enabled large, lowincome urban families to move into West Hartford at below market rentals. John retained an abiding resolve for putting faith into action.

John & Beverly were members of a team of five which began, “Say Yes to Education,” taking a fifth grade class in a Hartford elementary school and providing its 56 students with support, counseling, and finally a college education at no cost to the family in the 1980s.

Politically, John served as a member of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee and his district committee. He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly as a representative from West Hartford in the late 1970s. John served in the General Assembly for two terms as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, when he retired and became Corporation Counsel for West Hartford in 1980. He served as the elected probate judge for the District of West Hartford from 1983 – 2002 until mandated retirement at age 70.

Professionally, John was a general practitioner in his early years of law practice. He subsequently became a probate lawyer. He authored published opinions and articles and was a frequent speaker at professional seminars and events. He enjoyed his law practice immensely and practiced law until his death. He credits his colleagues and dedicated office staff at his firm Berman, Mickelson, Dembo, & Jacobs, LLC with enhancing his enthusiasm for his long-lived career and for his respect for the law.

Personally, John enjoyed sports until his death. He especially enjoyed playing tennis with his four children and was pleased that each of them played on their college tennis teams – a result of countless summer hours at the Hartford Tennis Club. Father-son and father-daughter tournaments were also highlights both in New England and in national tennis tournaments. John was the chief lines judge for the Aetna World Cup. John was also a competitive table tennis and badminton player. In his mid 50s, John's hip replacements caused him to retire from tennis becoming “relegated” to golf. He was a creditable golfer even on occasion shooting his age at the Hartford Golf Club. He served as president of the Connecticut State Seniors Golf Association in 2012.

John and Laura Ann Whitty of East Hampton married in 1998 and the couple moved to Hartford in 2004. Laura shared John's love of theatre, museums, and travel. Besides being a kindred spirit, Laura encouraged John's love of sports, and was truly a supportive helpmate. She was an integral and enthusiastic participant in cherished family gatherings at home in Hartford, DC, Ocean City, NJ, & Sanibel Island, FL.

John was predeceased by his parents Jacob and Anna (Woike) Berman, his brother Wesley, and his nephew George. He is survived by his beloved wife Laura, three children, Arthur Jay Berman of Bristol, CT, Virginia Berman Reinhardt (Michael) of Boston, MA, and Emily Berman D'Andrea (Paul) of Herndon, VA; five grandchildren, Blake Berman (Casey), Graciella Berman Reinhardt, Mirabelle Berman Reinhardt, Beverly D'Andrea, and JohnPaul D'Andrea; his sisters Louise M. Berman and Anne B. Nissen of MD; nephew Todd Nissen (Francoise); niece Amy Nissen; and niece Sonya Wesley. He is also survived by his three stepchildren, Theodore (TR) Rossi, Kate Rossi, Beth Rossi, and by Kate's daughters Sydney and Harper Prestash and their father Greg Prestash and by numerous other beloved family members.

There will be a service of Witness to the Resurrection and Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 5 at 1:00pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford, CT. Calling hours will be held Friday, November 4 from 4:00 – 7:00pm at The Ahern Funeral Home, 180 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT. Burial will be private. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www. ahernfuneralhome.com.