Michael B. 'Mike' Berman, 73
Michael B. ‘Mike’ Berman, 73
Michael B. “Mike” Berman, 73, died suddenly in a car accident Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014.
Mike was born in 1941, to George and Dessa Berman in Chicago. He grew up in various cities including Chicago, Newark, New York and Detroit.
Mike was a graduate of Bowling Green University and enjoyed a long and successful career as a broadcast and advertising executive in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Detroit. It was in Detroit that Mike met Maureen Hathaway, also a media executive, and after the first wonderful 15 years as a couple, they married in Las Vegas in May of 1991. All together they enjoyed 38 splendid years together.
Mike loved life in Montana so much that his only regret was that he and Maureen didn’t move here sooner. He became an avid fly-fisherman and developed an intense zeal for art, specializing in collecting original work by Montana artists. He valued his friendships with artists and gallery owners, and looked forward to an annual pilgrimage with his brother, David, to the Western Art Show in Great Falls. His true lifelong passion was horseracing and he was thrilled to be a part-owner of several thoroughbred racehorses in the last year of his life. Mike became active in Rotary, volunteered on a Glacier Symphony Committee, enjoyed his daily coffee group in Lakeside and valued the many new friends he made in Montana. He and Maureen especially cherished sunset cocktails on the deck enjoying the beautiful view over Flathead Lake.
Mike was noted for his warmth and his smile. He could bring serenity and calm where there was tumult. He always had a twinkle in his eye. His grandmother would say, “He is like a piece of silk.”
He is survived by and will be terribly missed by his wife, Maureen Hathaway; his brother and best friend, David M. Berman; his sister-in-law, Sandy Berman; niece, Rebecca Berman (Chris Fagot), and great-nephew, J.D.; nephew, Josh Berman (Kira); brothers-in-law, Joe Hathaway (Irene), David Hathaway (Mary Ann Fortunate), and nieces, Alexandra Hathaway, Mary E. Hathaway and Lisa M. Hathaway.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a local Rotary club, the Glacier Symphony, the A.L.E.R.T. Helicopter, the Hockaday Museum, the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (pdjf.org) or a charity of your choice.
Please join us for a celebration of his life from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Tree Frog Tavern, 1250 U.S. 2 W., in Kalispell.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
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