My Eulogy for my Father



(Edward M. Berman:  August 15th 1934 - August 2, 2025)

Thank you for joining us today.

No doubt dad is looking down, and seeing all of you here is allowing him to rest easier.

It is also a heart warming sight for us.

Thank you for all your gestures of support during the recent past. 

These impossible times were made more tolerable because of your continuous love and support.

My dad spoiled us by living such a good and long life.

He was a good man, had a good soul, and had a good heart in every way.

He led a valuable life with the highest ethics and morals.

He was always guiding me without instructing me.

I just wasn't aware of that at times.

Which is what made him such a great parent, role model, and best friend.

Here are some of his teachings that I will carry forever and you might find useful.

Truth: 

Always without exception speak it.

It is the only currency in the marketplace of human life and relationships.

Speaking and doing: 

There should be no space between what you say and what you do.

Humans listen with their eyes.

Behavior: 

You are never alone. 

Always do the right thing.

Some three letter entity is always watching or listening to you. 

It could be the FBI, CIA, ACP, NSA, or God.   

Wingman. 

Always be one. 

Never for one second let another human being believe that they cannot rely on you. 

My dad was always there for me, 

When I asked him to be and 

When I needed him to be and

He was even there for me when I did not know I needed him there. 

Positive Value. 

Create it, and as much as you can. 

Make others and yourself better every day.

This is what you leave behind - the dividends others reap of you leading a good life. 

Being a Parent vs. being a Friend: 

My father was my father, and as silly as that sounds he never placed trying to be my friend ahead of being my father. 

And for that reason we became the best of friends. 

Trust me there were times where we both questioned this parent/child thing. 

Probably him more than me for those of you who knew me in my teens. 

Fight. 

Be willing to fight and die for someone(s) or something(s) 

Show them how high that hill is that you would take a stand on.

My father loved us so much, that hill was so high that he climbed.

Three times a week going for dialysis for three years.

All the medical procedures he subjected himself to.

He made it evident how much he loved and cherished the life he built

And how much he was going to miss us.  The value he placed on us.

Make sure people you love know to what extent you would fight and even die for them.

His body quit, not his soul.

And lastly, 

Love. 

Dad was in his hospital bed the day after their 69th wedding anniversary this past June.

He was not doing well. 

So poorly in fact that he was being “coded”

His blood pressure was low,

He was passing in and out of consciousness.

Mom was standing by the side of his bed, bending down.

Her forehead on his.

And he was holding her hands with both of his.

He was kissing them and rubbing them against his face

Saying how much he loved her, how sorry he was for what was happening

Over and over again.

Two bodies, two souls 100% connected - for over 7 decades.

Truer love I have never seen or thought possible.

At that moment 

In spite of all the people around us, of all the noise, and goings on.

My father was teaching me again, what the goal of my life should be.

Love, 

When you love somebody

Tell them that, 

As often and in as many ways as possible. 

Hug them, 

Kiss them. 

Text them. 

Call them.

Smoke Signals.

Morse Code.

By whatever means, get it out there. 

And often.

Because one day you will not be able to.

Forever.

Dad would look me in the eyes and just say “DB”, and stop. 

Or call me Duvid. 

That love he was able to express, 

Sometimes I thought too often, or at the most unusual of moments.

I am going to miss that so much.

Dad, I love you so much.

EB,

I know you are still with us; that you will be with me for the rest of my life.

I promise to continue doing my best to make you proud of me

To continue your work and build upon the value that you have created.