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Edwin J. Berkowitz, chairperson of JE Berkowitz and son of company founder Jacob E. Berkowitz, passed away Friday, January 8.
Berkowitz went to the University of Pennsylvania–where he met his wife Barbara–to study economics before finishing his education at Temple. After college and law school, he joined his father’s company full time in 1950, where he spent his entire career and helped grow the business to the large fabricator it is today.
“Ed was a real entrepreneur in every sense of the word. More than that, he was a smart businessman who crafted his company not only for the next year but for the generations to come,” says USGlass magazine publisher Debra Levy. “He built his company to last and to grow, and he always believed in the strength of the individual fabricator.”
Edwin Berkowitz with his wife, Barbara, at his 80th birthday celebration in 2006.
[To learn more about Berkowitz, read an extensive interview with USGlass magazine just after the company moved into its current 200,000 square-foot facility in Pedricktown, N.J.]
“Ed Berkowitz was a giant in the industry and his legacy continues with his son Arthur,” GANA executive vice president Bill Yanek said in a statement. “Ed’s leadership and impact won’t be forgotten.”
Berkowitz is survived by Barbara; children Alan, Arthur, Daniel and Pnina; and grandchildren Emily, Sam, Julie, Hannah, Jacob, Maya, Talia, Yoni, Meir and Sara. Arthur Berkowitz took the reins as the company’s president and CEO in 1986.
“I was fortunate enough to attend a major anniversary celebration for his company a few years back, and you could see, even more importantly than anything, how much his children and grandchildren adored him,” says Levy. “He has a wonderful business and family legacy.”
Services for Ed Berkowitz will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Har Zion Temple, 1500 Hagys Ford Road, Penn Valley, PA 19072, followed by interment at Roosevelt Memorial Park. Contributions in his memory may be made to Crossroads Hospice or a charity of the donor’s choice.
In honor of Berkowitz, the company’s plant and offices with be closed Tuesday, January 12.
USGNN.com™ will bring you more information as it is made available.
If you would like to pass along a note to the family, please leave a comment below.
Arthur,
To you and your family, I extend sincere sympathy on the passing of your Dad and his legacy in the glass industry. I had the privilege to know your Mother and him in earlier years and was always fascinated by some interesting conversations we were able to share. I hope all of the family can blessed in the future with good memories of Ed and his love for family.
Ed was a good friend of many years, a valuable contributor to our industry, and will be missed by our community. May he rest in peace. Amen
Arthur ,Your Dad was a very special person. We had many laughs during the best years of the industry at Glass Week and the LOF Focus meetings. He had great pride in you and your family’s very successful company’ Mary joins me in sending our deepest sympathy. Bill Stone
My sincerest condolences to Arthur and the entire Berkowitz family.
Our prayers of comfort are spoken over you and your family.
Well done, Mr. B. I h not planned on missing you so soon.Yet while I had time with you,I wittnessed a giant care giver that started with no less than enough character to show the profession of a potter in his everyday March on life, as we knew he had completed many times before .For months now how strange the world spun without your presence, let us celebrate and rejoice EDWIN BERKOWITZ as we are closer than we first began,to understand his humble greateness.Good bye!