Thomas O. Bernheim

Thomas O. Bernheim passed away at age 87 on November 22, 2023 from complications of Alzheimer’s with his family by his side. Tom grew up in New York City, attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard, did a stint in the Marines, and earned an MBA from Columbia. While at Harvard, he performed with the Hasty Pudding Company, a drama troupe, where his lifelong love of theater blossomed. 

He met and married Elizabeth Brooks and they had 3 children, Katy Bernheim, Robert Bernheim, and Anne B. Campbell. After several years of working for the family leather business, he moved to Massachusetts to pursue a career in education at The Park School, starting as an administrator, later adding coaching and teaching Latin. He went on to work at Wang Laboratories in Management Training, and later taught the subject at Suffolk University and Bentley College. After retiring from teaching, he completed training to become a life coach.

After his marriage to Elizabeth ended, he married Judith Lane, and they were together for over 30 years. Tom was an enthusiastic and entertaining grandfather of eight grandchildren, now including three great-grandchildren.

Tom loved to sing show tunes and dance. He reveled in creating songs about his friends, family, and co-workers. Tom loved to laugh, and to help people. He played squash and soccer (in college), golf (occasionally), tennis, pick-up basketball, and racquet ball. He coached basketball and baseball at Park and for various after-school programs. He has walked and jogged countless miles around Milton, Brookline, Newton, and Chestnut Hill. He was a lifelong Boston sports fan, even when growing up in the Big Apple.

Tom is survived by his wife Judith, his sister, Lynn B. Reese, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and step-sons.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alz.org).

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