Berliner, Andrew Reichman
Mr. Andrew R. Berliner, of Division Street in Great Barrington, MA, died Friday August 30, 2002 at Fairview Hospital from a heart attack. he was 55 years old. Born September 26, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York he was the son of Frances Reichman Berliner Harter and the late Dr. Abraham Berliner. In 1953 he and his family moved to Great Neck, New York where he attended the Great Neck South High School. He came to Great Barrington to attend the former Cornwall Academy and graduated with honors in the class of 1964. Andrew obtained his pilot’s license from the Berkshire Aviation Enterprises under the direction of Walter Koladza. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio for one year, and then went on to attend Juilliard School of Music in New York, where he majored in piano. Andrew built, owned and operated, Crystal Recording Studios, in Hollywood, California for over twenty five years. He was an award winning engineer/producer of more then one hundred top ten records. As a scientist, he interfaced with colleagues William De Vries and Claude DeBakey pioneering research and development of the artificial heart. He held many U.S. patents including a patent for an analog switch used on the space shuttle. He met his wife, Elizabeth Gowan Berliner, at his studio and they were married in Hawaii. After selling the studio the couple moved to their home in Great Barrington in August of 1994. Since residing in the Berkshires, he had been teaching advanced piano lessons at his home. Andrew is survived by his mother, Frances and her husband Hugh A. Harter of New York City; his wife Elizabeth and their three children, Aaron (12), Carmen (8) and Alex (7) as well as his daughters, Rebecca and Sabrina and son Ryan all who reside in Los Angeles. He also leaves his grandchildren, Madison and Mason Miranda; two sisters, Uma Berliner and Nancy Rudolph. Funeral services for Andrew R. Berliner will be held Thursday September 5, 2002 at eleven o’clock at the Guthrie Center on Division Street in Great Barrington, conducted by the Rev. Bert Marshall. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday September 4, 2002 from four until seven p.m. at the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad or Fairview Hospital through the funeral home, 426 Main Street Great Barrington, MA 02130. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through finnerty@bcn.net.