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Fred M. Bernstein, 81, a 17-year resident of Rio Rancho, passed away Friday, Nov. 23, 2001. He youngest of six children, he was born January 29, 1920, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He is survived by Pearl, his loving and caring wife of 54 years. He is also survived by: three sisters, Estelle Peckcrar and Fran Burstein of Tempe, Ariz., and Ruth Bernstein of Lyndhurst, Ohio; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Jack Brauner of Rio Rancho; his daughter, Susan Bernstein of Seattle, Wash.; a son, Gary Bernstein of Albuquerque; daughter-in-law, Donna Bernstein; and two grandchildren, Gehrig and Nikki Bernstein of Albuquerque; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. After distinguished service in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, Fred was employed as chief of Security at the United Nations for 18 years and at CBS in New York for 15 years. After many years in the workforce and raising his family, Fred earned a bachelor of science degree in health, physical education and recreation from Empire State College in New York. He demonstrated much love and respect for those with whom he came in contact. He believed a person's character and name were the most important traits in life. He achieved great satisfaction and notoriety in the sport of judo, and achieved the sixth degree level of Black Belt. He coached the gold medal winning United States Judo Team at the Israel Maccabiah Games in 1977 and 1981. He loved teaching and instructing young children and adults. He also volunteered a good deal of his time to the Special Olympics Bowling Team of Rio Rancho. As a result of many years of unselfish and dedicated service, he was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame 2000. Fred was a member of the Rio Rancho Fishing Club. He served two terms as post commander of the Jewish War Veterans, served as secretary of the New Mexico Democratic Club, served on the Ritual Committee at B'nai Israel Synagogue and was a contributing member of the Ronald Gardenswartz Jewish Community Center. In 1999, he served as Grand Marshal of the Twinkle Light Parade in Rio Rancho. He also served on the 1999 committee to develop and implement the War Veterans Memorial Park in Rio Rancho. Funeral service, officiated by Rabbi Isaac Celnik and Cantor Michael Dzubin, will be Monday, November 26, 2001, at 10 a.m., in Vista Verde Mortuary Chapel, 4310 Sara Rd. at Meadowlark Ln. in Rio Rancho. Interment will immediately follow at Vista Verde Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers will be Myron Bernstein, Jack and Leonard Brauner, Joseph Triont, Ron Snow, Warren Sigal, Hyman Kornblatt and Milton Tempkin. Memorial Services will be held at the family home Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fred M. Bernstein Scholarship Fund at the Ronald Gardenswartz Jewish Community Center, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque 87109; B'nai Israel Synagogue Preschool, 4401 Indian School Rd NE, Albuquerque 87110, or to the Special Olympics of New Mexico, 6600 Palmoas Ave NE, Albuquerque, 87109. Arrangements by Vista Verde Memorial Park and Mortuary, 892-9920.
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