Susan Berman Levine

* Retired school secretary
* Beach Channel HS, Queens

Susan Berman Levine believed in celebrating the special moments. That’s one of the things Gloria Slosberg remembers about their time working together as secretaries at Beach Channel HS in Queens before Susan’s retirement in 1999. She also worked at PS 207 in Queens.

“She was a very upbeat person, always smiling,” Slosberg said. “We celebrated birthdays, weddings and bar mitzvahs.” Susan ran all the social activities at the school, always inviting staff for a slice of cake. “She took care of everyone,” said Slosberg.

Susan, 79, died on April 20.

“The UFT was a huge part of our family life,” said her daughter, Ellen Wasserman. Susan, a school secretary for 25 years, was a union member for more than 40 years and her first husband, Jerry Berman, “was an active member as a union rep in the Brooklyn office,” said their daughter.

Susan was a payroll secretary, so “everyone knew her,” Wasserman said. “She always had a smile on her face and never got overwhelmed with this tremendous job she had.”

Bill Langweil, a retired school counselor at Beach Channel, remembered Susan as a very happy person. “That made it a pleasure to go into work,” he said. “She used to talk about her family and grandchildren, and she made you feel like you were part of the family.”

Wasserman said Susan’s greatest love was her family and when she moved to Florida, she loved being visited by her children and grandchildren. When her first husband died after 46 years of marriage, she met and wed Murray Levine. They were married for 11 years.

“She was a very lucky woman who was loved by two wonderful men,” Wasserman said.

Susan served as the vice president of the Cancer Care chapter in Howard Beach, Queens, and the vice president in charge of fundraising for the Sisterhood of Howard Beach Judea Center, where she ran the annual fashion show.

Travel was one of Susan’s favorite pastimes and Maine and Branson, Missouri, were two of her favorite destinations with Berman. She also organized group weekends to jai alai in Connecticut every year that were attended by more than 60 friends. A nine-week cross-country trip when their children were young was a “highlight in my family’s life,” said her daughter.

In later years, Susan went on many cruises, where she enjoyed playing games of chance.

“She was so much fun to be with,” said Wasserman. “If you were with my mom you were surrounded by love and laughter.”

In addition to her daughter and her second husband, Susan is survived by her son, Ira Berman, and his wife, Jennifer; her son-in-law, Alan Wasserman; her grandchildren, Zachary and Jacob Wasserman and Austin Berman; her stepchildren, Robert Levine, Robin Gensburg, and her husband, Will, and Jill Asrael and her husband, Joel; and her step-grandchildren, Stephanie and Matthew Gensburg and Rose and Noah Asrael.

Condolences may be sent to

Ellen Wasserman
16 Old Field
Roslyn, NY 11576