On July 9, Leonard “Len” Bernhardt at 93 at his home in Pikesville. His wife of 65 years, Rita (née Brafman) Bernhardt was at his side. He was born on Dec. 17, 1929, shortly after the start of the Great Depression. As a young man he excelled in sports and was a member of the football, wrestling and track teams at both City College High School and Towson University, where he was a champion wrestler. He discovered skiing at 40, and it became a lifelong passion. Through his two long and overlapping careers, he touched the lives of many within the Baltimore community. As a secondary school teacher in Baltimore City, he made a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of students, and during his legendary 60-year career as a real estate broker, he helped countless others find their dream homes. He met his wife Rita in October 1956. He often said that her saying yes to his proposal made him the luckiest man in the world. He was a loving and generous father and a devoted grandfather whose stories and imaginative characters stood the test of time in delighting both generations. He is survived by wife Rita; daughters Melissa B. Kalish and Jennifer (Thomas B.H.) Brown III; grandchildren Thomas B.H. Brown IV, Chloe Elizabeth Kalish and Zachary Paul Bernhardt Kalish; and nephew Allen (Maggie) Brodnick. He was predeceased by granddaughter Olivia Baron Brown; son-in-law Marc Kalish; parents Frieda (née Baron) and Michael Bernhardt; and siblings Florence “Flossie” Brodnick, Herbert Bernhardt and Beth Valinksy.
Contributions can be made to the Kennedy Krieger Institute or the ASPCA.
