Edward Berkowitz

Dr. Edward Berkowitz, a leading and innovative public educator, passed away on September 21, 2026, in Towson, MD, at the age of 97.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, on July 10, 1929, Dr. Berkowitz lived a remarkable life of service to country, community, family, and friends.

Dr. Berkowitz's life was characterized by leadership. He was Student Government President and Vice President at Stuyvesant High School in New York, NY, an Eagle Scout, and a long-time member of the Eagle Scout Board of Review. During the Korean conflict, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Navy. He served as navigator aboard the USS Amphion and as communications officer at Barbers Point Naval Air Station, HI, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.

Dr. Berkowitz earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Brooklyn College and a Doctor of Education from Columbia University's Teachers College.

His 42-year career in public education, focused on improving instruction, took him to New York City; Roslyn, NY; Port Washington, NY; Carroll County, MD; and Bergen County, NJ. He was a Teacher, Reading Specialist, Assistant Principal, Project Supervisor, one of the first middle school Principals in the United States, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, Adjunct Professor, and Community College Dean.

Throughout his life, Dr. Berkowitz was an avid world traveler, swimmer, and tennis player, as well as a crossword enthusiast and a devoted bridge and pinochle player. He served as President of Temple Beth El's Seniors Club and Chair of its Adult Education Committee, and he was named 2009 Man of the Year by its Men's Club.

A teacher at heart, he never stopped championing learning. He was kind, generous, and brilliant, and he encouraged the people he taught to go after what they wanted in life.

He is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Barbara (Kestenbaum); brother, Lester; children, Ruth (Lee) Shpritz, Susan Berkowitz, and the Honorable Marc (Mary Hargrave) Berkowitz; grandchildren, Adam (Barbara Beardsworth) Shpritz, Elana (Zachary) Lander-Portnoy, Laurel (Bill) Ostrander, David Mick (Catherine Colandro), Melissa (Scott) Murphy, Margaret Berkowitz, and Maria Berkowitz; and greatgrandchildren, Annalyse and Isla Shpritz, Talia and Max Lander-Portnoy, and Alexander Ostrander. He was predeceased by his parents, Lillian (Landesberg) and Abraham Berkowitz; his sister-in-law, Nancy (Gross) Berkowitz; and his grandson, Michael Berkowitz.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Sol Levinson's Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, MD 21208, followed immediately by interment at Beth El Memorial Park, Randallstown, MD. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Michael Berkowitz Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Interlochen Center for the Arts (https://everloved.com/life-of/michael-berkowitz/donate/) or to the Torah Maintenance Fund at Temple Beth El Congregation, Baltimore, MD. The family will be in mourning at Edenwald, 800 A Southerly Road, Towson, MD after interment with a service at 7 pm. Parking available at the Sheraton Hotel next door if the Edenwald lot is full. Please check in with the front desk at Edenwald when you arrive.