In Memory of Herman S. Bershtein,
Founder
1925-2021
Attorney Herman S. Bershtein was born in New Haven on September 2, 1925. He is the son of the late William and Bessie Burke Gamm Bershtein, and the widower of the late Shirley Lufer Bershtein. He lived in Hamden his entire life. While at Yale, at age 17, he enlisted in the Army in 1943.
Mr. Bershtein, a WWII Veteran, attended The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. He served with the 86th Black Hawk Infantry Division; he later served as a lieutenant under General Douglas McArthur at General Headquarters, Allied Forces Pacific AFPAC in the Far East. Among his duties, he was responsible for the transportation and security of the International Prosecution Section, which prosecuted Japanese war criminals. After he was discharged from the Army in Japan, he remained in Tokyo as a civilian employee of the U.S. Civil Service.
He was also responsible for coordinating ground transportation and billeting for civilian United Air Lines crews, transporting cargo from California to Tokyo, and from Tokyo to Shanghai, China.
He attended Columbia University in New York City, University of South Carolina, Cornell University, and graduated from Yale University.
Mr. Bershtein was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1953. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1954, and was admitted to the Federal Bar in 1955.
He was the founder and senior partner of the law firm of Bershtein, Bershtein & Bershtein, Professional Corporation., d/b/a Bershtein Law Center.
Mr. Bershtein was a member of the New Haven County and Connecticut Bar Associations, and he was an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
He served as a judge advocate for many years, for the Jewish War Veterans, Hamden Post 204, now associated with Levitow, Post #45, P.O. Box 150, Bloomfield, CT 06002.
In 1967, Mr. Bershtein represented the entire Hamden Fire Department. He successfully negotiated a 52 hour work week, - reduced to a 42 hour week-with Hamden's first Mayor, the late John DeNicola.
He was also involved in Hamden's acquisition of some of the acreage for The Laurel View Golf Course.
For many years, he was the attorney for the Paradise Country Club in Hamden. He was successful in obtaining a permanent injunction, and also damages against the Town of Hamden, which was diverting the natural flow of water to the Paradise Country Club recreational area, in order to irrigate The Laurel View Golf Course.
He served as the Co-Chair of the 60th, 65th and 70th year reunions of his 1943 Hamden High School Class.
He was a dedicated runner, having completed 19 marathons, including New York City, Bridgeport, Hartford, Mystic, Narragansett, Rhode Island, Boston, and Chicago. He was a previous member of the Yale Baseball Association.
He is a member of the National Registry of 'Who's Who of America".
He is survived by two daughters, Attorney Joy A. Bershtein of Branford, and Attorney Jan Bershtein of Bethany, and a son, Attorney Richard A. Bershtein of Madison, and ten grandchildren (William, Allison, Sheryl Leigh General of Branford; Marc and Alexa Cafasso of Bethany; Richard William, Hunter Sammy, Dylan James, Cody Sap and Shayann Shirley Bershtein of Madison). His five brothers, David Bershtein of North Haven, Alexander Gamm of Hallendale, Florida, Henry Gamm of South Carolina, James Bershtein of Hamden, and Morris Gamm of Wallingford predeceased him. He is survived by his dedicated companion, Lucy LaCava formerly of DePodesta Real Estate, and presently of Coldwell Banker.
He is also survived by great granddaughter, Jada Joy Lyman and great grandson, William General V, is due to arrive this month.
