Eugene H. Berkun, 93, of Albany, New York, and Coconut Creek, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, August 13th surrounded by his loving family. Born at Albany Medical Center (just down the hall from where Jack “Legs” Diamond was recovering from a fourth assassination attempt) on May 9, 1931, Eugene had a wonderful childhood and often spoke of exciting adventures with his many lifelong friends, and enjoyed a very deep bond with his first cousins.

A graduate of Albany High school, Harvard University class of 1953, and Albany Law School, Eugene practiced law in the firm of Jack Garry. He later joined with his brother Richard in the family soft drink business, bottling and distributing Royal Crown Cola, Nehi, and Diet Rite.

Eugene met Barbara, the love of his life, in 1964 on a blind date coordinated by her cousin Marty, and they were married just six months later. They recently celebrated 59 years together.

He was a dedicated family man. Although Eugene was up most days before dawn in order to get the shop up and running so that the soda could be delivered, he made it home for lunch with his wife, and was at the dinner table every night at 6 o’clock- holding court and sharing stories of his youth, discussing current events in the news, talking about the sermon that week in synagogue, and instilling values in his children through deep discussions and debates.

He loved the outdoors and was not a man who could sit still for long! His favorite expression was: “Get outside and enjoy it, it might be the last beautiful day of the year!“

In the warmer weather, most weekends he and his planner/packer extraordinaire, Barbara, loaded up their pop-up camper and took the kids to the Adirondacks, the New England shore, and New Jersey. If they weren’t camping, they were visiting out-of-town friends, going to art or science museums, day sailing on Lake George, and later canoeing and kayaking as Eugene passed the sailboats down to his grandchildren. As their children grew up, it was their 19-foot RV and the children/grandchildren in tents on trips to Maine, New Jersey, and Rogers Rock.

He loved the winter as much as the summer, and was an avid Nordic and alpine skier into his 70’s. After trying out the singles scene at Mount Snow and other hip ski areas, he had hoped to find a wife who would go with him to the mountain. He had a partner in Barbara, until she taught the kids to ski well enough that they could accompany their dad up the mountain. She was not a fan of the chairlift! After he switched to snowshoeing, Eugene recruited Paula and David to join him, well into his 80s.

Eugene was proud that he was handy, and taught all of his children how to be self-sufficient and take care of their homes. It was a rare day when he called a professional to fix something. The RV gave him new projects, because if it wasn’t the gas refrigerator, causing trouble… It was surely something else.

Even more important to Eugene than his outdoor activities and handyman skills, was his deep spirituality. He rarely missed Sabbath services and never a holiday service. He sat in the same seats his parents had occupied since the synagogue was founded. He was proud of his parent’s contribution to the community philanthropically, and their participation in synagogue life. Seeing his children first become Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, then be married at Temple Israel, and later his grandchildren become Bar and Bat Mitzvahs as well, was important for Eugene. He sang in the choir for most of his life, led the Erev Yom Kippur Mincha service every year, as his father had before him, and was a “Minyanaire”, praying at the morning minyan regularly.

His commitment to the Jewish community led to his involvement in the founding years of the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy, and he was proud to send his children and later grandchildren through the Hebrew Academy. His and Barbara’s Federation endowment fund has helped the school and will continue to support the school for years to come.

Eugene was predeceased by his parents, Benjamin and Ruth Berkun, and is survived by his loving wife, Barbara (Schner), his brother Richard (Jo Ann), children Andrew (LiFang) Berkun, Paula Binyamin, and David Berkun (Debbie).

Grandchildren Samuel, Ruth, and Sarah Berkun, Benjamin, Erez and Barak Binyamin, and Hannah Berkun, great-grandaughter Amelia Elinor Binyamin, as well as his three loving nieces Elaine, Lauren and Susan (Will Traves) Berkun and many dear cousins.

Services at Temple Israel, 600  New Scotland Avenue in Albany on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 11:00am. Interment will follow in the Temple Israel Cemetery on Western Avenue in Guilderland

Shiva will be held at the Berkun home 310 S. Main Ave in Albany at 7:00-9:00pm (minyan 7:30) Thursday, 1:00-3:00pm Friday, and on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 1:00-3:00pm and 7:00-9:00pm (minyan 7:30), Wednesday 10:00am-12:00pm.

To view service via livestream please visit 

https://www.tialbany.org/livestream