Bertram Howard Freed, age 99, passed away peacefully at Glens Falls Hospital in New York on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Bert was a beloved partner, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend who touched the lives of many with his kindness and wisdom.

Bert was born in Marion, Ohio in 1925. His father, Sol Freed, immigrated to the United States from Latvia around 1906, and his mother, Bertha Lee Cohen Freed, was born in Illinois. He had one sister, Betty. Bert was the salutatorian of his high school class and attended Ohio State University for three years. During his time at OSU, he served as prior (president) of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity chapter. He left Ohio State after his junior year to run May's Jewelers, his father's jewelry store, after his father suffered a severe heart attack that prevented him from working for a while. In 1951, he married Barbara Hai of Albany, New York.

Bert and Barbara worked together in the jewelry store in Marion until 1958 when Barbara's father passed away. The family then moved to Albany, New York, to run Barbara's father's clothing store, Flah's. Together, they grew Flah's from one store in Albany to a chain of 20 stores throughout upstate New York. After selling Flah's in 1982, Bert embarked on a successful career as a stockbroker with Kidder Peabody. After retiring from that work in 1992, he started The Kinderhook Group, a real estate brokerage firm serving Columbia County, New York. He sold The Kinderhook Group in 2008.

Bert was always disappointed that he had not graduated from Ohio State, so in the 1990s he completed his bachelor’s degree at St. Rose College in Albany. He was most proud to have used his expertise in real estate to find a permanent home for The Chatham Synagogue in Valatie, New York, where he has been a member for many years.

In recent years, Bert reconnected with cousins descended from Holocaust survivors of his father's family in Latvia who lived in the US, Israel, and South Africa. He enjoyed learning about his Latvian ancestors.

Bert was a past president of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Fort Orange Club, and the Albany Rotary Club.

In their years together, Bert and Caroline enjoyed traveling to California, Hawaii, Hilton Head, Puerto Rico, and especially to their house in the south of France.

Through all the many ups and downs of his life, Bert retained a calm and cheerful demeanor that immediately made everyone around him comfortable and happy. He had an infectious love of life that cheered all those around him.

Bert is survived by his cherished partner and devoted companion of 30 years, Caroline Lanford Eastman. He leaves behind his children Marc (Aileen Leventon), David, Jamie (Jeff Brody), and Reuben Samson; Bronwen Eastman and Caroline Eastman Bridges (Jordan Bridges); and nineteen grandchildren: Benjamin, Sarah, Roddy, Nina Freed and Andrea Goldstein; Steven, Katie, Emma, and Sophie Freed; Mordechai and Malcolm MacWilliams; Shirley, Rebecca, Rachel, and Danielle Samson; Caroline and Orson Bridges; and Alejandro and Adela Gonzalez Eastman. He is also survived by his niece Bonnie Davis of Voorhees, NJ and numerous extended family members.

Bert was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Jerry Davis of Marion, Ohio; his nephew, W. Keith Davis; his daughter-in-law, Karen Samson of Newtown, PA; and his beloved son, Ross Freed.

The family would like to thank Lisa Merrills for her devoted caregiving and for endless hours of card playing with Bert in the last year of his life. True to his nature to the end, Bert used his undiminished card-playing and social skills to form yet another lasting friendship with Lisa.

Bert's life was filled with love, laughter, and dedication to his family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services for Bert will be held graveside today Tuesday January 14th at 10:00 am at Beth Emeth Cemetery, 58 Turner Lane in Loudonville. The funeral service for Bert will be livestreamed on The Levine Memorial Chapel Facebook page beginning at 10:00 am.

Shiva will be held at the home of Marc Freed and Aileen Leventon (42 Sunset Ave. Kinderhook, NY 12106) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers or tree planting, please make contributions in Bert’s name to either TeamBilly.org which promotes awareness and support to find a cure for brain tumors or The Agricultural Stewardship Association www.agstewardship.org a nonprofit land trust helping landowners conserve farm and forest land in Washington and Rensselaer counties in the upper Hudson River Valley.