Obituary for Barry C. Berelowitz
Barry was a passionate philanthropist committed to causes including education, Jewish life, and Zionism; a widely respected and accomplished accountant and businessman; and a loving father, grandfather, husband, stepfather and step-grandfather.
Barry was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Mary Borowik and Sam Berelowitz. He was orphaned at the age of 11, and he and his sister Helen were subsequently raised by his aunt Annie. Barry matriculated from Athlone High in 1955 with a first class pass and distinctions. He received a degree in accounting in 1959 from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, where he was the second top student, and became a chartered accountant in 1960. He went to work at one of South Africa's most well-respected accounting firms, Fisher Hoffman, and quickly rose to the rank of managing partner. In 1978, he emigrated with his family to Los Angeles and continued his career at Kenneth Leventhal, one of the largest American accounting firms at the time. He also became a real estate investor. In 1990 he started his own firm in San Diego.
He had two daughters, Marian and Karen, with Joan Merkel, whom he married in 1967. He married his second wife, Marlene Hyde, in 2010. Barry was an enthusiastic and loving father, who took his children on trips to Europe, Israel, Australia, Canada, Peru, and many U.S. states, and frequently visited his daughters whether they were living in New York, Washington DC, or Costa Rica.
In addition to his dedication to family, he was known for his generosity, sense of humor, and wide-ranging intellectual interests. Favorite pastimes included playing chess and staying fit. He was a member of the high-IQ society Mensa and had an impeccable memory. He enjoyed solving any problem that came his way; he coined the phrase L.I.T.B. - Leave it to Barry! His philanthropy largely focused on educational projects in Israel, where he supported several major school initiatives for ORT, the largest Jewish nonprofit organization for education.
Barry is survived by his wife Marlene, daughters Marian (Adi) and Karen (Stephen), grandson Henry, step-children David (Tina), Susan (Michael), and Amanda (Iddo), along with nine step-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his sister Helen. Funeral services were held on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, CA.
Barry was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Mary Borowik and Sam Berelowitz. He was orphaned at the age of 11, and he and his sister Helen were subsequently raised by his aunt Annie. Barry matriculated from Athlone High in 1955 with a first class pass and distinctions. He received a degree in accounting in 1959 from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, where he was the second top student, and became a chartered accountant in 1960. He went to work at one of South Africa's most well-respected accounting firms, Fisher Hoffman, and quickly rose to the rank of managing partner. In 1978, he emigrated with his family to Los Angeles and continued his career at Kenneth Leventhal, one of the largest American accounting firms at the time. He also became a real estate investor. In 1990 he started his own firm in San Diego.
He had two daughters, Marian and Karen, with Joan Merkel, whom he married in 1967. He married his second wife, Marlene Hyde, in 2010. Barry was an enthusiastic and loving father, who took his children on trips to Europe, Israel, Australia, Canada, Peru, and many U.S. states, and frequently visited his daughters whether they were living in New York, Washington DC, or Costa Rica.
In addition to his dedication to family, he was known for his generosity, sense of humor, and wide-ranging intellectual interests. Favorite pastimes included playing chess and staying fit. He was a member of the high-IQ society Mensa and had an impeccable memory. He enjoyed solving any problem that came his way; he coined the phrase L.I.T.B. - Leave it to Barry! His philanthropy largely focused on educational projects in Israel, where he supported several major school initiatives for ORT, the largest Jewish nonprofit organization for education.
Barry is survived by his wife Marlene, daughters Marian (Adi) and Karen (Stephen), grandson Henry, step-children David (Tina), Susan (Michael), and Amanda (Iddo), along with nine step-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his sister Helen. Funeral services were held on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, CA.